Frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10407012-B2
Application number	US-201715827648-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2017
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

An off-center impact structure (a frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure) has a first end section, a mid-section and a second end section. The first end section is fixedly attached to an attachment section of a vehicle front side member. The mid-section extends laterally outward and defines an arcuate shape curving forward from the first end section and laterally outboard. The second end section of the off-center impact structure is located forward of the attachment section. The mid-section has a forward-facing surface formed with a plurality of vertically oriented recesses. In response to an off-center impact event where impacting force is applied to a distal end of the second end section, the off-center impact structure deforms bending along the mid-section with at least a portion of the vertically oriented recesses expanding in a bellows-like manner absorbing impact energy such that the second end section is moved rearward.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure comprising:
a front side member having a front end and a front-section extending rearward from the front end in a vehicle longitudinal direction, the front-section defining an attachment section and a suspension support section rearward of the attachment section; and
an off-center impact structure having a first end section, a mid-section and a second end section, the first end section being fixedly attached to the attachment section of the front side member, the mid-section extending laterally outward and defining an arcuate shape curving forward from the first end section and to the second end section laterally outboard relative to the front side member, the second end section of the off-center impact structure being located forward of the attachment section of the front side member, the mid-section having a forward-facing surface formed with a plurality of vertically oriented recesses such that in response to an off-center impact event where impacting force is applied to a distal end of the second end section, the off-center impact structure deforms bending at the mid-section with at least a portion of the vertically oriented recesses expanding in a bellows-like manner absorbing impact energy with at the second end section moving rearward.

2. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the off-center impact structure includes a first portion and a second portion welded to one another defining a hollow interior there between.

3. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the first portion and the second portion extend an overall length of the off-center impact structure with the first portion defining the forward surface of the off-center impact structure and the second portion defining a rearward facing surface of the off-center impact structure.

4. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 3 , wherein
the rearward facing surface of the second portion includes a rib that extends a majority of the overall length of the off-center impact structure, the rib being oriented and dimensioned to provide rigidity to the off-center impact structure.

5. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 4 , wherein
the off-center impact structure is configured such that in response to the off-center impact event the rib of the second portion absorbs impact energy as the off-center impact structure deforms.

6. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first end section of the off-center impact structure extends in a direction that is perpendicular to the front side member.

7. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the attachment section of the front side member includes a hollow interior, the front side member having an outboard wall and an inboard wall with an outboard opening extending through the outboard wall to the hollow interior, with the first end section of the off-center impact structure extending through the outboard opening and into the hollow interior.

8. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 7 , wherein
the attachment section of the front side is further defined by an inboard opening in the inboard wall of the front side member, with the first end section of the off-center impact structure extending through the inboard opening.

9. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 8 , further comprising
a sleeve extending through the outboard opening, the hollow interior and through the inboard opening of the front side member, the sleeve being fixedly attached to the outboard wall and the inboard wall with the first end portion of the off-center impact structure extending into the sleeve, the first end portion of the off-center impact structure being directly attached to the sleeve.

10. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 9 , wherein
the sleeve is welded to the outboard wall and welded to the inboard wall.

11. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 9 , wherein
the first end portion of the off-center impact structure is directly attached to the sleeve via a removable fastener.

12. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 9 , wherein
the sleeve includes an end portion located outboard of the outboard wall of the front side member, the end portion having a recessed area along a rearward side of the sleeve such that during an off-center impact event the mid-section of the off-center impact structure deforms in the vicinity of the recessed area of the sleeve.

13. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 12 , wherein
the recessed area of the end portion of the sleeve includes a curved surface located such that during an off-center impact test the mid-section of the off-center impact structure deforms in the vicinity of curved surface of the recessed area of the sleeve.

14. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the front side member includes a cab mount flange fixedly attached to an outboard surface of the front side member forward of the attachment section, the cab mount flange extending in the outboard direction.

15. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 14 , wherein
the second section of the off-center impact structure has a distal end located forward of the cab mount flange with the off-center impact structure being in a non-impacted state.

16. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 14 , further comprising
a front wheel suspension structure supported to the suspension support section of the front side member rearward of the attachment section and the cab mount flange, and extending in an outboard direction from the front side member.

17. The frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure according to claim 1 , further comprising
a front wheel suspension structure supported to the suspension support section of the front side member rearward of the attachment section, and extending in an outboard direction from the front side member.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Grattan Patrick

Classifications

• B62D21/152 Primary

  Front or rear frames · CPC title

• B60R19/18 Primary

  {characterised by the cross-section;} Means within the bumper to absorb impact · CPC title

• B62D21/02

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title

• B60R2019/1813

  made of metal · CPC title

• B62D25/085

  Front-end modules · CPC title