Vehicle structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10464610-B2
Application number	US-201815906400-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2018
Priority date	Oct 31, 2016
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame, a beam, an attachment bracket. The vehicle frame has a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member rigidly fixed to each of the first and second side members and extending between the first and second side members. The beam extends rearward from a mid-portion of the cross-member with a gap being defined between the beam and the cross-member. The attachment bracket is rigidly fixed to the mid-portion of the cross-member and retaining the beam. The attachment bracket is configured to maintain the gap with the vehicle frame in a non-impacted state. The attachment bracket is further configured such that in response an impact event impacting a forward area of the vehicle frame, with impacting forces causing relative movement between the cross-member and the attachment bracket, the gap is diminished or closed.

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 cross-member rigidly fixed to each of, and extending between the first side member and the second side member;
a beam extending rearward from a mid-portion of the cross-member with a gap being defined between the beam and the mid-portion of the cross-member; and
an attachment bracket rigidly fixed to the mid-portion of the cross-member and retaining the beam, the attachment bracket being configured to maintain the gap with the vehicle frame in a non-impacted state,
the attachment bracket being further configured such that in response an impact event impacting a forward area of the vehicle frame, with impacting forces causing relative movement between the cross-member and the attachment bracket, the gap is diminished or closed.

2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the attachment bracket has a forward end that is welded to the cross-member.

3. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the attachment bracket has a recessed area with a forward end of the beam being disposed within the recessed area, the recessed area of the attachment bracket being shaped and dimensioned to guide relative movement of the beam toward the cross-member in response to the impact event.

4. The vehicle structure according to claim 3 , wherein
the recessed area of the attachment bracket is defined by a U-shaped channel with a forward section of the beam being retained along the U-shaped channel in a non-impacted state.

5. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the attachment bracket extends above the beam and above the mid-portion of the cross-member.

6. The vehicle structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the attachment bracket extends from the cross-member in a vehicle rearward direction above the beam.

7. The vehicle structure according to claim 5 wherein
the attachment bracket has a recessed area with the beam being disposed within the recessed area, the recessed area of the attachment bracket is a concaved area shaped to receive the beam with the beam extending along a lower surface of the recessed area of the attachment bracket.

8. The vehicle structure according to claim 5 wherein
the attachment bracket is welded to the cross-member at predetermined welding areas and is attached to a forward portion of the beam via mechanical fasteners.

9. The vehicle structure according to claim 8 wherein
the welding areas defined between the attachment bracket and the cross-member are configured with first shear strength and the mechanical fasteners are provided with a second shear strength stronger than the first shear strength such that in response to the impact event, the welding areas release the attachment bracket from the cross-member with the attachment bracket remaining above the cross-member supporting the beam thereby limiting vertical movement of the beam relative to the cross-member.

10. The vehicle structure according to claim 9 wherein
the forward portion of the beam includes a pair of elongated slots with the mechanical fasteners extending through the elongated slots and apertures in the attachment bracket, the elongated slots being oriented and shaped such that in response to the off-center impact event, the beam and the attachment bracket can undergo limited relative movement along a lengthwise direction of the elongated slots.

11. A vehicle structure comprising:
a vehicle frame having a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member rigidly fixed to each of, and extending between the first side member and the second side member;
a hollow beam extending rearward to a forward side of a mid-portion of the cross-member with a gap being defined between the hollow beam and the cross-member; and
an attachment bracket rigidly fixed to the mid-portion of the cross-member and retaining the hollow beam, the attachment bracket being configured to maintain the gap with the vehicle frame in a non-impacted state, the attachment bracket being further configured such that in response an impact event impacting a forward area of the vehicle frame, with impacting forces causing relative movement between the cross-member and the hollow beam, the gap is diminished or closed.

12. The vehicle structure according to claim 11 , wherein
the attachment bracket is welded to the cross-member.

13. The vehicle structure according to claim 11 , wherein
the attachment bracket has a recessed area with the hollow beam being disposed within the recessed area, the recessed area of the attachment bracket is shaped and dimensioned to guide relative movement of the hollow beam toward the cross-member in response to the impact event.

14. The vehicle structure according to claim 13 , wherein
the recessed area of the attachment bracket is defined by a U-shaped channel having an upper flange and a lower flange with a rearward section of the hollow beam extending between the upper flange and the lower flange in the non-impacted state.

15. The vehicle structure according to claim 14 , wherein
the recessed area of the attachment bracket is configured such that in response to the impact event the recessed area limits upward and downward vertical movement of the hollow beam relative to the cross-member.

16. The vehicle structure according to claim 14 , wherein
the attachment bracket extends in a vehicle forward direction from the cross-member.

17. The vehicle structure according to claim 14 , wherein
the attachment bracket is welded to a forward side of the cross-member and supports a rearward portion of the hollow beam.

18. The vehicle structure according to claim 14 , further comprising
a forward lower attachment bracket fixed to the cross-member and extending under a rearward portion of the hollow beam adjacent to the attachment bracket.

19. The vehicle structure according to claim 11 wherein
the front area of the vehicle frame includes a push arm coupled thereto the along an outboard side thereof, the push arm being configured to receive the impacting force of the impact event.

20. The vehicle structure according to claim 19 , wherein
the hollow beam includes a forward end coupled to the first side member such that during the impact event, the impacting force received by the push arm is transmitted through the first side member and subsequently to the hollow beam.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Grattan Patrick Dean
• Hartley Christopher Robert
• Mcgory Michael James

Classifications

• B62D21/11

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

• B62D27/023

  Assembly of structural joints · CPC title

• B62D25/082

  Engine compartments · CPC title

• B62D21/152 Primary

  Front or rear frames · CPC title

• B62D21/03

  transverse members providing body support · CPC title