Vehicle energy management system with load-bearing component in wheel cavity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016288747-A1
Application number	US-201514678480-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 3, 2015
Priority date	Apr 3, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An energy management system for a vehicle includes a load-bearing component operatively positioned in a wheel cavity rearward of a tire and wheel assembly in the wheel cavity. The load-bearing component is configured to limit movement of the tire and wheel assembly in the wheel cavity under a load applied to the vehicle forward of the tire and wheel assembly and offset from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.

First claim

1 . An energy management system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has a wheelhouse structure defining a wheel cavity, and a tire and wheel assembly in the wheel cavity, the energy management system comprising:
a load-bearing component operatively positioned in the wheel cavity rearward of the tire and wheel assembly and configured to limit movement of the tire and wheel assembly within the wheel cavity under a predetermined load that is applied to the vehicle forward of the tire and wheel assembly and offset from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.

2 . The energy management system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle has a longitudinally-extending rocker, and the energy management system further comprising:
a pyrotechnic actuator assembly mounted to the rocker and comprising:
an actuator housing forming a pyrotechnic chamber;
a pyrotechnic igniter in communication with the pyrotechnic chamber and selectively activatable to generate a pressure impulse;
wherein the load-bearing component is an actuator configured to deploy from the actuator housing into the wheel cavity and engage the tire and wheel assembly in response to the pressure impulse;
wherein the actuator has an end effector that contacts the tire and wheel assembly; and
a sensor operatively connected to the vehicle and the pyrotechnic igniter and configured to provide a signal that activates the pyrotechnic igniter upon sensing a predetermined condition indicative of imminent or actual application of the load.

3 . The energy management system of claim 2 , wherein the rocker defines an internal cavity open toward the wheel cavity; and wherein the actuator housing is mounted within the internal cavity.

4 . The energy management system of claim 2 , further comprising a wheelhouse liner lining at least a portion of the wheelhouse structure; and wherein the wheelhouse liner surrounds or covers the end effector when the actuator is in an unactuated position.

5 . The energy management system of 1 , further comprising:
an airbag assembly mounted to the vehicle and including an airbag selectively deployable into the wheel cavity; and wherein a first portion of the airbag is the load-bearing component.

6 . The energy management system of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle has a longitudinally-extending rocker, wherein the airbag assembly is mounted to the rocker, and the airbag assembly further comprising:
an actuator housing forming an inflation chamber; wherein the airbag is operatively connected to the actuator housing; an inflation mechanism in communication with the inflation chamber and selectively activatable to inflate the airbag; wherein the airbag is configured to deploy into the wheel cavity when inflated so that the load-bearing component engages the tire and wheel assembly; and a sensor operatively connected to the vehicle and to the airbag and configured to activate the inflation mechanism upon sensing a predetermined condition indicative of imminent or actual application of the load.

7 . The energy management system of claim 6 , wherein the airbag is mounted to the wheelhouse structure and the actuator housing is within the rocker.

8 . The energy management system of claim 5 , wherein a second portion of the airbag is expandable and collapsible and is bonded to the first portion of the airbag, and wherein said second portion moves from a collapsed state to an expanded state when the airbag is inflated.

9 . The energy management system of claim 5 , wherein the airbag is configured to wrap around the tire and wheel assembly rearward, inward, and forward of the tire and wheel assembly when the airbag is deployed.

10 . The energy management system of claim 1 , wherein the load-bearing component is a structural wheelhouse liner fixed to and lining at least a portion of the wheelhouse structure.

11 . The energy management system of claim 10 , wherein the structural wheelhouse liner comprises a fiber-reinforced composite.

12 . The energy management system of claim 10 , wherein the structural wheelhouse liner comprises:
a steel base plate; and a damping pad secured to the steel base plate forward of the steel base plate.

13 . An energy management system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has a wheelhouse structure defining a wheel cavity, and a tire and wheel assembly in the wheel cavity, the energy management system comprising:
a selectively actuatable assembly including a load-bearing component operatively positioned in the wheel cavity rearward of the tire and wheel assembly and configured to translate forward when the assembly is actuated to thereby limit movement of the tire and wheel assembly in the wheel cavity under a load that is applied to the vehicle forward of the tire and wheel assembly and offset from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.

14 . The energy management system of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle has a longitudinally-extending rocker, and the the selectively actuatable assembly comprises:
a pyrotechnic actuator assembly mounted to the rocker and comprising:
an actuator housing forming a pyrotechnic chamber;
a pyrotechnic igniter in communication with the pyrotechnic chamber and selectively activatable to generate a pressure impulse;
wherein the load-bearing component is an actuator configured to deploy from the actuator housing into the wheel cavity and engage the tire and wheel assembly in response to the pressure impulse;
wherein the actuator has an end effector that contacts the tire and wheel assembly; and
a sensor operatively connected to the vehicle and the pyrotechnic igniter and configured to activate the pyrotechnic igniter upon sensing a predetermined condition indicative of imminent or actual application of the load.

15 . The energy management system of claim 13 , wherein the selectively actuatable assembly is an airbag assembly mounted to the vehicle and including an airbag selectively deployable into the wheel cavity; and wherein the load-bearing component is a first portion of the airbag.

16 . The energy management system of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle has a longitudinally-extending rocker, wherein the airbag assembly is mounted to the rocker, and the airbag assembly further comprising:
an actuator housing forming an inflation chamber; wherein the airbag is operatively connected to the actuator housing; an inflation mechanism in communication with the inflation chamber and selectively activatable to release solid propellant that inflates the airbag; wherein the airbag is configured to deploy into the wheel cavity when inflated so that the load-bearing component engages the tire and wheel assembly; and a sensor operatively connected to the vehicle and to the airbag and configured to activate the inflation mechanism upon sensing a predetermined condition indicative of imminent or actual application of the load.

17 . The energy management system of claim 15 , wherein a second portion of the airbag is expandable and collapsible and is bonded to the first portion of the airbag; and wherein said second portion moves from a collapsed state to an expanded state when the airbag is inflated.

18 . The energy management system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a wheelhouse liner fixed to the wheelhouse structure and covering or surrounding the load-bearing component when the selectively actuatable assembly is in an unactuated state.

19 . A vehicle comprising:
a wheelhouse structure defining a wheel cavity; a tire and wheel assembly in the wheel cavity; an energy management system includin

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Jensen Charles E
• Saje Robert N
• Simonin Matthew P
• Rich Jonathan E
• Quigley Michael E
• Lawall Hans P

Classifications

• F15B15/19

  Pyrotechnical actuators · CPC title

• B62D21/152

  Front or rear frames · CPC title

• B60R2019/007

  Means for adjusting or regulating the crash absorption capacity of the vehicle, e.g. when detecting an impending collision · CPC title

• B60R13/0861

  for covering undersurfaces of vehicles, e.g. wheel houses · CPC title

• B60R19/00 Primary

  Wheel guards; Radiator guards, {e.g. grilles}; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions ({reinforcement elements for side doors B60J5/0412; } mudguards B62D) · CPC title