Vehicle structure including reinforcement extending between rockers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018265136-A1
Application number	US-201715458388-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2017
Priority date	Mar 14, 2017
Publication date	Sep 20, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle structure including a first rocker, a second rocker, and a reinforcement. The first rocker is spaced from the second rocker. The reinforcement has a forward beam and a rearward beam spaced from each other. The reinforcement includes a first side member and a second side member each extending from the forward beam to the rearward beam. The first side member abuts the first rocker, and the second side member abuts the second rocker.

First claim

1 . A vehicle structure comprising:
a first rocker and a second rocker spaced from the first rocker; and a reinforcement having a forward beam and a rearward beam spaced from each other; the reinforcement including a first side member and a second side member each extending from the forward beam to the rearward beam, the first side member abutting the first rocker, and the second side member abutting the second rocker; wherein the forward beam includes a first segment extending from the first side member at a non-perpendicular angle, and a second segment extending from the second side member at a non-perpendicular angle, the first segment and the second segment each extending from the first side member and the second side member, respectively, in directions transverse to each other.

2 . The vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the first side member is elongated along the first rocker, and the second side member is elongated along the second rocker.

3 . The vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the first side member is fixed to the first rocker, and the second side member is fixed to the second rocker.

4 . The vehicle structure of claim 1 , further comprising a bulkhead and a cross member spaced from each other and each extending from the first rocker to the second rocker, wherein the forward beam abuts the bulkhead and the rearward beam abuts the cross member.

5 . The vehicle structure of claim 4 , wherein the reinforcement includes a flange fixed to the rearward beam, the flange extending across the cross member.

6 . The vehicle structure of claim 5 , wherein the flange is fixed to the cross member.

7 . The vehicle structure of claim 1 , further comprising an underbody extending from the first rocker to the second rocker, and a floor, the reinforcement being between the underbody and the floor.

8 . The vehicle structure of claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement abuts the underbody and is fixed to the underbody.

9 . The vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the forward beam and the rearward beam each have a convex shape from the first side member to the second side member.

10 . The vehicle structure of claim 9 , wherein the rearward beam is a mirror image of the forward beam.

11 . (canceled)

12 . The vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the forward beam includes an intermediate segment extending from the first segment to the second segment, each of the first segment and the second segment of the forward beam extending transversely from the intermediate segment.

13 . The vehicle structure of claim 12 , wherein the intermediate segment is elongated in a direction perpendicular to the first rocker and the second rocker.

14 . The vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement includes a track extending along the forward beam and the rearward beam, and further comprising a seat assembly supported by the reinforcement and moveably coupled to the track.

15 . The vehicle structure of claim 14 , further comprising a motor moveably coupling the seat assembly and the track.

16 . The vehicle structure of claim 14 , wherein the track is continuous and extends along the first side member and the second side member.

17 . The vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement includes an inner wall and an outer wall spaced from the inner wall, the inner wall and the outer wall defining a groove therebetween, and further comprising a seat assembly supported by the reinforcement and slideably engaged with the groove.

18 . The vehicle structure of claim 1 , further comprising a first pillar and a second pillar spaced from each other and defining a door opening therebetween, the door opening sized to receive a front door and a rear door.

19 . The vehicle structure of claim 18 , wherein the reinforcement is disposed between the first pillar and the second pillar.

20 . The vehicle structure of claim 1 , further comprising a first pillar and a second pillar spaced from each other, the reinforcement disposed between the first pillar and the second pillar.

21 . A vehicle structure comprising:
a first rocker and a second rocker spaced from the first rocker; and a reinforcement having a forward beam and a rearward beam spaced from each other; the reinforcement including a first side member and a second side member each extending from the forward beam to the rearward beam, the first side member abutting the first rocker, and the second side member abutting the second rocker; wherein the reinforcement includes a track extending along the forward beam and the rearward beam, and further comprising a seat assembly supported by the reinforcement and moveably coupled to the track; and wherein the track is continuous and extends along the first side member and the second side member.

22 . A vehicle structure comprising:
a first rocker and a second rocker spaced from the first rocker; and a reinforcement having a forward beam and a rearward beam spaced from each other; the reinforcement including a first side member and a second side member each extending from the forward beam to the rearward beam, the first side member abutting the first rocker, and the second side member abutting the second rocker; wherein the reinforcement includes an inner wall and an outer wall spaced from the inner wall, the inner wall and the outer wall defining a groove therebetween, and further comprising a seat assembly supported by the reinforcement and slideably engaged with the groove.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Baccouche Mohamed Ridha
• Barbat Saeed David
• Arora Rahul
• Nusier Saied

Classifications

• B60N2/062

  transversally slidable · CPC title

• B62D29/007

  predominantly of special steel or specially treated steel, e.g. stainless steel or locally surface hardened steel · CPC title

• B62D21/157 Primary

  for side impacts · CPC title

• B60N2/012

  The seat support being a part of the vehicle body or chassis · CPC title

• B62D27/02

  rigid · CPC title