Energy absorbing rocker assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016257346-A1
Application number	US-201514639185-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 5, 2015
Priority date	Mar 5, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An exemplary rocker assembly includes a vehicle rocker at a lateral side of a vehicle, and a battery rocker at a lateral side of a battery pack of the vehicle. An exemplary energy absorbing method includes directing a first portion of a side load through a first load path that extends through a vehicle rocker at a lateral side of a vehicle, and directing a second portion of the side load through a second load path that extends through a battery rocker at a lateral side of a battery pack.

First claim

1 . A vehicle assembly, comprising:
a battery pack having a laterally facing wall with a flange extending laterally from the laterally facing wall; a vehicle rocker at a lateral side of a vehicle; and a battery rocker separate and distinct from the battery pack, the battery rocker at least partially secured to the laterally facing wall such that the flange laterally overlaps a portion of the battery rocker.

2 . The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle rocker extends longitudinally a first distance and the battery rocker extends longitudinally a second distance less than the first distance.

3 . The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle rocker extends longitudinally from a forward position adjacent a front wheel well to a rearward position adjacent a rear wheel well, and the battery rocker extends longitudinally a longitudinal length of the battery pack.

4 . The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery rocker is secured directly to the vehicle rocker, the battery rocker and the vehicle rocker each providing a circumferentially continuous cross-section that is separate and distinct from the battery pack.

5 . The vehicle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the battery rocker is secured directly to the battery pack and to a downwardly facing surface of the vehicle rocker such that the circumferentially continuous cross-section of the battery rocker is laterally spaced from the laterally outer wall of the battery pack to provide an open area between the laterally outer wall and a laterally inner wall of the battery rocker.

6 . (canceled)

7 . The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery rocker is crushable relative to the battery pack to absorb part of energy of impact.

8 . The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle rocker extends laterally further from a center of the vehicle than the battery rocker.

9 . The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery rocker is vertically below the vehicle rocker.

10 . The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery rocker is secured directly to the battery pack at a first location and a second location spaced from the first location, the first location at the laterally facing wall of the battery pack, and the second location at a downwardly facing surface of the battery pack, the battery rocker contacting the laterally facing wall exclusively at the first location and laterally spaced from the laterally facing wall in areas other than the first location.

11 . The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle rocker and the battery rocker are the same material and are both extruded.

12 . The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle rocker and the battery rocker are the same material and are both stamped.

13 . An energy absorbing method, comprising:
directing a first portion of a side load through a first load path that extends through a vehicle rocker at a lateral side of a vehicle; and directing a second portion of the side load through a second load path that extends through a battery rocker at a lateral side of a battery pack, the second portion of the side load collapsing the battery rocker independently from the battery pack, wherein the battery pack has a laterally facing wall and a flange extending laterally from the laterally facing wall, and the battery rocker is at least partially secured to the laterally facing wall such that the flange laterally overlaps a portion of the battery rocker.

14 . The energy absorbing method of claim 13 , further comprising collapsing the battery rocker independently from the vehicle rocker and all portions of the battery pack when applying the side load.

15 . The energy absorbing method of claim 13 , further comprising securing the battery rocker to the laterally facing wall of the battery pack and a downwardly facing surface of the battery pack, the battery rocker providing a circumferentially continuous cross-section laterally outside the battery pack.

16 . The energy absorbing method of claim 15 , further comprising securing the battery rocker to the downwardly facing surface of the vehicle rocker.

17 . The energy absorbing method of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle rocker extends longitudinally a first distance and the battery rocker extends longitudinally a second distance less than the first distance.

18 . (canceled)

19 . The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack houses a plurality of battery cells, wherein the battery rocker comprises an outer portion and an inner portion connected to each other at interfaces to provide a circumferentially continuous cross section outside the laterally facing wall of the battery pack.

20 . (canceled)

21 . The energy absorbing method of claim 13 , wherein the battery rocker comprises an outer portion and an inner portion connected to each other at interfaces to provide a circumferentially continuous cross-section outside the laterally facing wall of the battery pack.

22 . The energy absorbing method of claim 21 , wherein the inner portion is secured directly to the battery pack at a first location and a second location spaced from the first location, the first location at the laterally facing wall of the battery pack, and the second location at a downwardly facing surface of the battery pack, the battery rocker contacting the battery pack exclusively at the first location and the second location, the inner portion laterally spaced from the laterally facing wall in areas other than the first location.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Wu Chi-Chin
• Sassi Abdelmonaam
• Bis Lawrence

Classifications

• B60K2001/0438

  Arrangement under the floor · CPC title

• B60K1/04

  of the electric storage means for propulsion · CPC title

• B62D21/157 Primary

  for side impacts · CPC title

• B60Y2306/01

  Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection · CPC title