Vehicle A-pillar rib configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9988095-B2
Application number	US-201715691058-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2017
Priority date	Sep 7, 2016
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

An A-pillar structure in an electric vehicle for increasing vehicle rigidity and decreasing potential damage to the vehicle battery and to passengers. The A-pillar structure may include a surface and various ribs and bosses that protrude outward from the surface. The A-pillar structure may include three main cross ribs that being along a front edge of the A-pillar structure and extend rearward in the longitudinal direction toward two bosses. The bosses may be coupled via additional ribs to an anchor structure that is secured to the body structure and/or chassis of the electric vehicle. The rib configuration influences the transfer of energy through the A-pillar structure in the event of a collision.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
an A-pillar structure having a plurality of ribs protruding outward from a surface, the A-pillar structure comprising:
an upper boss and a lower boss protruding outward from the surface in the lateral direction, the upper boss being positioned vertically above the lower boss;
an upper cross rib protruding outward from the surface and extending between a front edge of the A-pillar structure and the upper boss;
a middle cross rib protruding outward from the surface and extending between the front edge and the upper boss;
a lower cross rib protruding outward from the surface and extending between the front edge and the lower boss; and
a boss column protruding outward from the surface and extending between the upper boss and the lower boss in the vertical direction;
wherein:
the upper cross rib is not directly coupled to the middle cross rib;
the middle cross rib is not directly coupled to the lower cross rib;
the lower cross rib is not directly coupled to the upper cross rib;
the upper cross rib includes two substantially planar non-parallel sections that form a first angle with respect to each other;
the middle cross rib is substantially planar; and
the lower cross rib includes two substantially planar non-parallel sections that form a second angle with respect to each other.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the A-pillar structure further comprises:
a top rib protruding outward from the surface and extending between a top edge of the A-pillar and the first angle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are obtuse angles, the second angle being greater than the first angle.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the A-pillar structure further comprises:
a center rib protruding outward from the surface in the lateral direction and extending between the first angle and the second angle in the vertical direction, the center rib directly coupling with each of the upper cross rib, the middle cross rib, and the lower cross rib.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the A-pillar structure further comprises:
an anchor structure protruding outward from the surface in the lateral direction, wherein the boss column extends between the lower boss and the anchor structure in the vertical direction, and wherein the anchor structure is coupled to a body structure of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the A-pillar structure is an aluminum casting.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the upper boss and the lower boss have a maximum depth in the lateral direction that is greater than or equal to a depth of the plurality of ribs.

8. An A-pillar structure having a plurality of ribs protruding outward from a surface, the A-pillar structure comprising:
an upper boss and a lower boss protruding outward from the surface in the lateral direction, the upper boss being positioned vertically above the lower boss;
an upper cross rib protruding outward from the surface and extending between a front edge of the A-pillar structure and the upper boss;
a middle cross rib protruding outward from the surface and extending between the front edge and the upper boss;
a lower cross rib protruding outward from the surface and extending between the front edge and the lower boss; and
a boss column protruding outward from the surface and extending between the upper boss and the lower boss in the vertical direction;
wherein:
the upper cross rib is not directly coupled to the middle cross rib;
the middle cross rib is not directly coupled to the lower cross rib;
the lower cross rib is not directly coupled to the upper cross rib;
the upper cross rib includes two substantially planar non-parallel sections that form a first angle with respect to each other;
the middle cross rib is substantially planar; and
the lower cross rib includes two substantially planar non-parallel sections that form a second angle with respect to each other.

9. The A-pillar structure of claim 8 , further comprising:
a top rib protruding outward from the surface and extending between a top edge of the A-pillar and the first angle.

10. The A-pillar structure of claim 8 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are obtuse angles, the second angle being greater than the first angle.

11. The A-pillar structure of claim 10 , further comprising:
a center rib protruding outward from the surface in the lateral direction and extending between the first angle and the second angle in the vertical direction, the center rib directly coupling with each of the upper cross rib, the middle cross rib, and the lower cross rib.

12. The A-pillar structure of claim 8 , further comprising:
an anchor structure protruding outward from the surface in the lateral direction, wherein the boss column extends between the lower boss and the anchor structure in the vertical direction, and wherein the anchor structure is coupled to a body structure of a vehicle.

13. The A-pillar structure of claim 8 , wherein the A-pillar structure is an aluminum casting.

14. The A-pillar structure of claim 8 , wherein the upper boss and the lower boss have a maximum depth in the lateral direction that is greater than or equal to a depth of the plurality of ribs.

15. A method for receiving an impact force related to a vehicle collision, the method comprising:
for a vehicle comprising:
an A-pillar structure having a plurality of ribs protruding outward from a surface, the A-pillar structure comprising:
an upper boss and a lower boss protruding outward from the surface in the lateral direction, the upper boss being positioned vertically above the lower boss;
an upper cross rib protruding outward from the surface and extending between a front edge of the A-pillar structure and the upper boss;
a middle cross rib protruding outward from the surface and extending between the front edge and the upper boss;
a lower cross rib protruding outward from the surface and extending between the front edge and the lower boss; and
a boss column protruding outward from the surface and extending between the upper boss and the lower boss in the vertical direction;

receiving, by the upper cross rib, a first force related to the impact force;
receiving, by the middle cross rib, a second force related to the impact force;
receiving, by the lower cross rib, a third force related to the impact force;
transferring a first portion of the first force received by the upper cross rib to the upper boss;
transferring a second portion of the second force received by the middle cross rib to the upper boss; and
transferring a third portion of the third force received by the lower cross rib to the lower boss;
wherein:
the upper cross rib is not directly coupled to the middle cross rib;
the middle cross rib is not directly coupled to the lower cross rib;
the lower cross rib is not directly coupled to the upper cross rib;
the upper cross rib includes two substantially planar non-parallel sections that form a first angle with respect to each other;
the middle cross rib is substantially planar; and
the lower cross rib includes two substantially planar non-parallel sections that form a second angle with respect to each other.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
transferring a fourth portion of the force received by the upper boss to the lower boss via the boss column.

Assignees

• Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Co Ltd

Inventors

• Maier Jens

Classifications

• B62D29/008

  predominantly of light alloys, e.g. extruded · CPC title

• B62D29/04

  predominantly of synthetic material (working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29) · CPC title

• B62D21/157

  for side impacts · CPC title

• B62D25/04 Primary

  Door pillars {; windshield pillars} · CPC title

• B62D21/15

  having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body (bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F) · CPC title