Vehicle structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10377420-B2
Application number	US-201815916010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2018
Priority date	Oct 31, 2016
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

An off-center impact reinforcement structure includes a push arm proximate rearward of a front portion of the vehicle frame. The push arm extends in a forward and laterally outboard direction from a front side member. A rear surface of the push arm is located below the first side member. During an initial stage of an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier directly impacts a front surface of the push arm, impacting forces from the off-center impact event move the rear surface of the push arm into contact with brackets that extend downward from the front side member and transfer through the push arm to brackets and to the vehicle frame. In a second stage, a rear surface of the push arm contacts the vehicle frame as the push arm pivots with the front surface of the push arm moving in a laterally outboard direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle structure comprising:
a vehicle frame having a first side member extending from a front portion of the vehicle frame to a rear portion of the vehicle frame; and
an off-center impact reinforcement structure that includes a push arm coupled to the first side member of the vehicle frame proximate a location rearward of the front portion of the vehicle frame, the push arm extending in a forward and laterally outboard direction relative to the first side member, a rear surface of the push arm being located below the first side member, the push arm of the off-center impact reinforcement structure being configured such that during an initial stage of an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier directly impacts a front surface of the push arm, impacting forces from the off-center impact event move the rear surface of the push arm into contact with brackets that extend downward from the front side member and transfer through the push arm to the brackets to the vehicle frame,
the off-center impact reinforcement structure is further configured such that during a second stage of the off-center impact event immediately after the initial stage of the off-center impact event, a rear surface of the off-center impact reinforcement structure contacts the vehicle frame as the push arm pivots in a rearward direction with the front surface of the push arm moving in a laterally outboard direction away from the first side member.

2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the off-center impact reinforcement structure is further configured such that during the second stage of the off-center impact event the push arm is moved to a position substantially perpendicular to the first side member.

3. The vehicle structure according to claim 2 , wherein
during the second stage of the off-center impact event impacting forces acting on the push arm urge the vehicle frame to move in a lateral direction away from the stationary barrier.

4. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the vehicle frame further comprises a second side member and a first cross-member, a second side member extending from a front portion of the vehicle frame to a rear portion of the vehicle frame substantially parallel to the first side member, and
the first cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction and being rigidly fixed to front areas of each of the first side member and the second side member.

5. The vehicle structure according to claim 4 , wherein
the off-center impact reinforcement structure further comprises a first diagonal structure extending rearward and laterally inboard from proximate an intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member toward a section of the second side member rearward of the first cross-member such that during the off-center impact event at least a portion of the impacting forces applied to the push arm are transmitted to the first diagonal structure.

6. The vehicle structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the off-center impact reinforcement structure is further configured such that during the second stage of the off-center impact event immediately after the initial stage of the off-center impact event, the rear surface of the push arm contacts the vehicle frame at the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member and pivots about the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member.

7. The vehicle structure according to claim 6 , wherein
the off-center impact reinforcement structure is further configured such that during the initial stage of the off-center impact event against the front surface of the push arm, impacting forces from the off-center impact event urge the push arm to undergo limited movement rearward relative to the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member.

8. 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 from a front portion of the vehicle frame to a rear portion of the vehicle frame, the first cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction and being rigidly fixed to each of the first side member and the second side member; and
an off-center impact reinforcement structure including a push arm coupled to the vehicle frame proximate an intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member and extending in a forward and laterally outboard direction from the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member, the push arm being configured such that during an initial stage of an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier impacts a front surface of the push arm, impacting forces from the off-center impact event are transferred through the push arm to the vehicle frame at the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member,
the off-center impact reinforcement structure is further configured such that during a second stage of the off-center impact event immediately after the initial stage of the off-center impact event, a rear surface of the off-center impact reinforcement structure contacts the vehicle frame at the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member and pivots about the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member such that the front surface of the push arm moves in a rearward direction and a laterally outboard direction away from the first side member.

9. The vehicle structure according to claim 8 , wherein
the off-center impact reinforcement structure is further configured such that during the second stage of the off-center impact event the push arm is moved to a position substantially perpendicular to the first side member.

10. The vehicle structure according to claim 9 , wherein
during the second stage of the off-center impact event impacting forces acting on the push arm urge the vehicle frame to move in a lateral direction away from the stationary barrier.

11. The vehicle structure according to claim 8 , wherein
the off-center impact reinforcement structure further comprises a first diagonal structure extending rearward and laterally inboard from proximate an intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member toward a section of the second side member rearward of the first cross-member such that during the off-center impact event at least a portion of the impacting forces applied to the push arm are transmitted to the first diagonal structure.

12. The vehicle structure according to claim 11 , wherein
the off-center impact reinforcement structure is further configured such that during the initial stage of the off-center impact event against the front surface of the push arm, impacting forces from the off-center impact event urge the push arm to undergo limited movement rearward toward the first diagonal structure.

13. A vehicle structure comprising:
a vehicle frame having a first side member that extends from a front portion of the vehicle frame to a rear portion of the vehicle frame; and
an off-center impact reinforcement structure that includes:
a first diagonal structure having a forward end that defines an intersection with the first side member, the first diagonal structure extending rearward and laterally inboard from the first side member; and
a push arm coupled to the vehicle frame proximate the intersection of the first side member and the first diagonal structure and extending in a forward and laterally outboard direction from the intersection of the first side member and the first diagonal structure,

the off-center impact reinfor

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B62D21/02

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title

• B62D21/155 Primary

  Sub-frames or underguards · CPC title

• B62D21/11

  with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} · 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

• B62D21/05

  pinched frame type, i.e. formed of at least two longitudinal frame sections connected by other longitudinal frame sections of lesser transverse dimension · CPC title