Electrified vehicle and deflector assembly for electrified vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10858044-B2
Application number	US-201816219310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2018
Priority date	Jan 11, 2018
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

An assembly for an electrified vehicle having a housing containing a transmission, and a vehicle component positioned in a longitudinal direction between the housing and a passenger compartment, includes a deflector configured for mounting to the housing and having a deflection face configured to deflect the vehicle component and/or the housing away from the passenger compartment during a frontal collision.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for a vehicle including a housing containing at least a portion of a transmission, and a vehicle component arranged between the housing and a passenger compartment, comprising:
a deflector configured for connecting to the housing between the housing and the vehicle component and including a deflection face configured to deflect the vehicle component and/or the housing in a vertical direction as the housing moves toward the passenger compartment during a frontal collision; and
at least one bracket configured to connect the deflector to the housing and extending at an angle to the deflection face, the at least one bracket comprising two leg sections arranged transversely to a vehicle longitudinal direction with one leg section on each side of a traction motor electrical cable.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a traction motor and at least one electrical connector and wherein the deflection face of the deflector is configured to deflect the vehicle component away from the at least one electrical connector.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the at least one electrical connector is positioned on a side of the housing facing the vehicle component.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deflection face of the deflector defines an increasing inclination in a longitudinal direction from a rearward portion to a frontward portion of the deflection face.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deflector comprises a boundary face extending transversely from the deflection face in a direction away from the housing.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the boundary face is inclined along a longitudinal vehicle axis.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the two leg sections are arranged with one leg section on each side of a traction motor electrical connector.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one bracket is connected to the housing by a connecting pin, and wherein the at least one bracket or the housing includes a step section projecting parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connecting pin.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deflector is at least partly displaceable toward the housing in response to a force exceeding a threshold and acting on the deflection face, wherein at least one supporting section of the deflector limits displacement by way of support on the housing.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the vehicle component comprises a brake booster connected to a brake pedal.

11. A vehicle comprising:
a transmission having a housing;
a traction motor coupled to the transmission;
a brake booster disposed between the housing and a cabin and connected to a brake pedal in the cabin;
a deflector mounted to the housing and including a deflection face configured to deflect the brake booster and/or the housing in a vertical direction as the housing moves toward the cabin during a frontal collision; and
at least one bracket securing the deflector to the housing, the at least one bracket having two leg sections arranged on opposite sides of an electrical connection to the traction motor.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the traction motor is contained within the housing.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the deflector is at least partially displaceable toward the housing in response to a force acting on the deflection face and wherein at least one supporting section of the deflector limits displacement by contacting the housing while being displaced by the force.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the at least one bracket comprises an associated connecting pin, and wherein the at least one bracket or the housing includes a step section projecting parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connecting pin.

15. A vehicle comprising:
a transmission having a housing;
an electric machine and an engine selectively coupled to the transmission;
a vehicle component disposed between the housing and a passenger compartment;
a deflector mounted to the housing and including a deflection face configured to deflect the vehicle component away from the passenger compartment as the housing moves toward the passenger compartment during a frontal collision; and
at least one bracket securing the deflector to the housing, the at least one bracket having leg sections arranged on opposite sides of an electrical connection to the traction motor.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the deflector is configured to deflect the housing such that electrical connections to the electric machine do not contact the vehicle component during the frontal collision.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the electric machine is contained within the housing.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Sawatzki Marius
• Meckenstock Daniel
• Spurling Michael
• Staines Bradley
• Tomovski Kriste
• Malik Mansoor

Classifications

• B60K6/405

  Housings · CPC title

• B62D21/152 Primary

  Front or rear frames · CPC title

• B60R21/09

  Control elements or operating handles movable from an operative to an out-of-the way position, e.g. {pedals,} switch knobs, window cranks {(specially adapted for brake pedals, e.g. by venting of master cylinder or destruction of force transmitting rod, B60T7/065)} · CPC title

• B60T7/065

  with means to prevent injuries in case of collision (for vehicle pedals in general by moving them from an operative to an out-of-the way position B60R21/09) · CPC title

• B62D25/082

  Engine compartments · CPC title