Vehicle body structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11643144-B2
Application number	US-202117362793-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2021
Priority date	Jun 29, 2021
Publication date	May 9, 2023
Grant date	May 9, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle body structure includes an engine cradle and an impact receiving structure. A forward end of the first side portion and a first lateral end of a front portion of the engine cradle are fixedly attached to one another. The first side portion has a rearward section and a forward section, the rearward section being horizontally oriented and the forward section extending upward and forward from the rearward section defining an acute angle therebetween, the acute angle being between 30 and 35 degrees. The impact receiving structure is installed to the first side portion of the engine cradle proximate an intersection between the first side portion and the front member. A lower surface of the impact receiving structure extends downward along the forward section of the first side portion further defining the acute angle of the forward section of the first side portion of the engine cradle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle body structure, comprising:
an engine cradle having at least a first side portion and a front portion, a forward end of the first side portion and a first lateral end of the front portion being fixedly attached to one another defining a first front corner of the engine cradle, the first side portion having a rearward section and a forward section, the rearward section being horizontally oriented and the forward section extending upward and forward from the rearward section defining an acute angle therebetween, the acute angle being between 30 and 35 degrees, the forward section of the first side portion of the engine cradle has an upper surface that is inclined in a rearward direction defining the acute angle with respect to a level upper surface of the rearward section of the first side portion of the engine cradle;
an attachment collar having a lower end attached to the first front corner of the engine cradle and an upper end attached to a front member of a vehicle frame member; and
an impact receiving structure installed to the first side portion proximate an intersection between the first side portion and the front member, the impact receiving structure having a forward portion adjacent to the attachment collar and a rearward portion that extends along the forward section of the first side portion, a lower surface of the impact receiving structure extending downward from the forward portion further defining the acute angle of the forward section of the first side portion of the engine cradle, the impact receiving structure has an upper surface that extends downward from the forward portion in the rearward direction defining the acute angle relative to the level upper surface of the rearward section of the first side portion of the engine cradle.

2. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the acute angle is 33 degrees.

3. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the impact receiving structure includes an upper member and a lower member that define a hollow interior of the impact receiving structure.

4. The vehicle body structure according to claim 3 , wherein
the impact receiving structure has an open inboard side that is partially closed by attachment to the first side portion of the engine cradle.

5. The vehicle body structure according to claim 3 , wherein
the upper member of the impact receiving structure has an inboard edge that is welded to the first side portion of the engine cradle.

6. The vehicle body structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the lower member of the impact receiving structure has an inboard edge that is welded to the first side portion of the engine cradle at a location below and spaced apart from the inboard edge of the upper member.

7. The vehicle body structure according to claim 3 , wherein
the upper member and the lower member are dimensioned and shaped such that a forward facing surface of the impact receiving structure is closed and extends rearward in an outboard direction.

8. The vehicle body structure according to claim 3 , wherein
the upper member and the lower member are dimensioned and shaped such that a forward facing surface of the impact receiving structure is closed and extends in a vehicle lateral direction approximately parallel to the front portion of the engine cradle.

9. The vehicle body structure according to claim 3 , wherein
the upper member and the lower member are dimensioned and shaped such that forward facing edges of the impact receiving structure define an opening that is open to the hollow interior, the forward facing edges extending forward in a vehicle lateral direction defining a second acute angle relative to the front portion of the engine cradle.

10. The vehicle body structure according to claim 3 , wherein
the upper member and the lower member are dimensioned and shaped such that forward facing edges of the impact receiving structure define an opening that is open to the hollow interior, the forward facing edges extending in a vehicle lateral direction approximately parallel to the front portion of the engine cradle.

11. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 , wherein
a portion of the upper surface of the forward section of the first side portion of the engine cradle and a portion of the upper surface of the impact receiving structure are next to one another being side-by-side and both being inclined by the acute angle.

12. A vehicle body structure, comprising:
an engine cradle having at least a first side portion and a front portion, a forward end of the first side portion and a first lateral end of the front portion being fixedly attached to one another defining a first front corner of the engine cradle, the first side portion having a forward section and a rearward section, the rearward section of the first side portion being horizontally oriented, the forward section of the first side portion of the engine cradle has an upper surface that is inclined in a rearward direction defining an acute angle with respect to a level upper surface of the rearward section of the first side portion of the engine cradle;
an attachment collar having a lower end attached to the first front corner of the engine cradle and an upper end attached to a front member of a vehicle frame member; and
an impact receiving structure installed to the first side portion proximate an intersection between the first side portion and the front member, the impact receiving structure having a forward portion adjacent to the attachment collar and a rearward portion that extends along the forward section of the first side portion, the forward portion being welded to the attachment collar via a first weld having a first attachment strength, and the rearward portion being welded to the forward section of the first side portion via a second weld having a second attachment strength that is greater than the first attachment strength, the impact receiving structure has an upper surface that extends downward from the forward portion in the rearward direction defining the acute angle relative to the level upper surface of the rearward section of the first side portion of the engine cradle.

13. The vehicle body structure according to claim 12 , wherein
the impact receiving structure includes an upper member and a lower member that define a hollow interior of the impact receiving structure.

14. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13 , wherein
the upper member of the impact receiving structure has an inboard edge that is welded to the first side portion of the engine cradle.

15. The vehicle body structure according to claim 14 , wherein
the lower member of the impact receiving structure has an inboard edge that is welded to the first side portion of the engine cradle at a location below and spaced apart from the inboard edge of the upper member.

16. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13 , wherein
the upper member and the lower member are dimensioned and shaped such that a forward facing surface of the impact receiving structure is closed and extends rearward in an outboard direction.

17. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13 , wherein
the upper member and the lower member are dimensioned and shaped such that forward facing edges of the impact receiving structure define an opening that is open to the hollow interior, the forward facing edges extending forward in a vehicle lateral direction defining a second acute angle relative to the front portion of the engine cradle.

18. The vehicle body structure ac

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Malm Daniel
• Corby Ryan
• Strean Adam

Classifications

• B62D21/155 Primary

  Sub-frames or underguards · CPC title

• B62D21/11 Primary

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

• B62D25/082

  Engine compartments · CPC title