Vehicle structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10124831-B2
Application number	US-201715836180-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2017
Priority date	Oct 31, 2016
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A push arm has a rear surface and a front surface. A rear surface of the push arm is located adjacent to and spaced apart from a first cross-member defining a gap therebetween. The push arm extends forward and laterally outward such that the front surface of the push arm is located laterally outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of a first side member of a vehicle frame. A support bracket has a front section releasably attached to the push arm and a rear section releasably attached to a first cross-member of the vehicle frame adjacent to an intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member. The support bracket is configured such that in response to an off-center impact event against the front surface of the push arm, the support bracket guiding movement of the push arm in a rearward direction.

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 extending parallel to a vehicle longitudinal direction, 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 respective front ends of the first side member and the second side member, the first cross-member further being rigidly fixed to each of the first side member and the second side member;
a push arm having a rear surface and a front surface, the rear surface of the push arm being located adjacent to and spaced apart from the first cross-member proximate an intersection between the first side member and the first cross-member, with a gap being defined between the rear surface of the push arm and the first cross-member, the push arm extending forward and laterally outward 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; and
a support bracket having a front section releasably attached to the push arm and a rear section releasably attached to the first cross-member of the vehicle frame, the support bracket being configured such that in response to an off-center impact event against the front surface of the push arm, the support bracket initially guides movement of the push arm in a rearward direction.

2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the support bracket and the push arm are configured such that in response to the off-center impact event the push arm moves relative to the support bracket in a rearward direction toward the first cross-member.

3. The vehicle structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the push arm is configured such that in response to the off-center impact event, after moving in the rearward direction guided by the support bracket, the push arm pivots relative to the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member such that the front surface of the push arm pivots about an area adjacent to the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member with the front surface moving rearward and laterally away from the first side member and the first cross-member.

4. The vehicle structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the rear section of the support bracket is located adjacent to the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member.

5. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , further comprising
a front suspension structure coupled to the first side member adjacent to the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member.

6. The vehicle structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the support bracket and the push arm are configured such that in response to the off-center impact event the push arm moves relative to the support bracket in a rearward direction toward the front suspension structure.

7. The vehicle structure according to claim 6 , wherein
the push arm is configured such that in response to the off-center impact event, after moving in the rearward direction guided by the support bracket, the push arm pivots relative to the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member such that the front surface of the push arm pivots about an area along the front suspension structure with the front surface moving rearward and laterally away from the first side member.

8. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the rear section of the support bracket is located adjacent to the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member and the front suspension structure.

9. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the support bracket conceals a portion of the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member.

10. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the support bracket is releasably attached to the push arm and the first cross-member of the vehicle frame via removable mechanical fasteners.

11. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the front section of the support bracket includes two elongated slots that extend in a direction parallel to a lengthwise direction of the push arm.

12. The vehicle structure according to claim 11 , wherein
the support bracket is releasably attached to the push arm and the first cross-member of the vehicle frame via removable mechanical fasteners that extend through respective ones of the two elongated slots.

13. The vehicle structure according to claim 12 , wherein
the removable mechanical fasteners extend through a forward portion of the elongated slots in a non-impacted state, and in response to the off-center impact event rearward movement of the push arm is initially guided by movement of the mechanical fasteners along the elongated slots.

14. The vehicle structure according to claim 13 , wherein
the rear section of the support bracket attachment to the first cross-member has greater strength than the front section attachment to the push arm such that in response to the off-center impact event against the front surface of the push arm, the front section of the support bracket releases attachment of the push arm via the mechanical fasteners after rearward movement of the push arm along the elongated slots.

15. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the support bracket located beneath the first cross-member and a rear portion of the push arm in the non-impacted state.

16. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the support bracket is attached to a bottom surface of the first cross-member and is attached to the bottom surface of a rear portion of the push arm.

17. The vehicle structure according to claim 16 , wherein
the support bracket is attached to the bottom surface of the first cross-member via removable mechanical fasteners.

18. The vehicle structure according to claim 16 , wherein
the support bracket is attached to the bottom surface of the rear portion of the push arm via removable mechanical fasteners in the non-impacted state.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Grattan Patrick Dean
• Hartley Christopher Robert
• Mason Gunnar
• Gapinski Matthew Michael

Classifications

• B62D25/082

  Engine compartments · CPC title

• B62D21/02

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title

• B62D21/152 Primary

  Front or rear frames · CPC title

• B60R2021/0023

  Offset collision · CPC title