Patent classifications
B62D21/05
Vehicle structural systems for sorb impact events
A structural small overlap rigid barrier (SORB) joining bracket for a vehicle having an underbody hold-down assembly, a cowl side assembly, and a body mount assembly configured to connect a vehicle body to a vehicle frame includes a cowl side coupling first portion configured to couple to the cowl side assembly, and an underbody coupling second portion configured to couple to the underbody hold-down assembly and the body mount assembly. The SORB joining bracket couples and maintains structural integrity between the underbody hold-down assembly and the cowl side assembly, and couples with the body mount assembly to increase vehicle load capacity by providing a direct load path into the frame of the vehicle. A frame extension tube assembly creates additional strength and stiffness via stack-up with the SORB joining bracket.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING CROSSMEMBERS TO A PAIR OF FLANGED BEAMS
A pair of elongate attachment members, or Z-rails for attaching an end of a trailer crossmember to a flanged beam each include a first end section, an L-shaped portion comprising a horizontal leg and a vertical leg extending from the first end section, and a second end section extending from the vertical leg. The horizontal leg has a bottom surface with a width equal to the distance between the web of the flanged beam and the end of the flange. The vertical leg has an outer surface with a width equal to the width of the end of the flange. The Z-rails are attached to opposite ends of the crossmember to form a subassembly. The subassembly is fixed to and between the flanged beams by welding the first end sections to the web of the corresponding beam, with the horizontal leg on the flange, without directly heating the flange, thereby not diminishing the toughness of the flange.
Vehicle frame structure
In a vehicle frame structure, upper ends of a front frame and a rear frame, which connect a lower frame and an upper frame vertically, are connected to each other above the upper frame, and a front portion frame assembly is connected to a main frame assembly via the lower frame and the upper ends of the front and rear frames. A bumper includes a front-rear frame portion extending forward from the front frame, and an inclined frame portion arranged between an intermediate portion of the front frame and an end portion of the front-rear frame portion. The bumper includes a sub-bumper, the sub-bumper including a front sub-frame extending upward from a front end of the bumper, and a front-rear sub-frame connected between an end portion of the front sub-frame and an intermediate portion of the front frame above the upper frame.
Vehicle frame structure
In a vehicle frame structure, upper ends of a front frame and a rear frame, which connect a lower frame and an upper frame vertically, are connected to each other above the upper frame, and a front portion frame assembly is connected to a main frame assembly via the lower frame and the upper ends of the front and rear frames. A bumper includes a front-rear frame portion extending forward from the front frame, and an inclined frame portion arranged between an intermediate portion of the front frame and an end portion of the front-rear frame portion. The bumper includes a sub-bumper, the sub-bumper including a front sub-frame extending upward from a front end of the bumper, and a front-rear sub-frame connected between an end portion of the front sub-frame and an intermediate portion of the front frame above the upper frame.
Fifth wheel hitch support assembly
A vehicle accessory mounting assembly for mounting a vehicle accessory to a vehicle fame assembly includes first and second support members adapted to couple to the frame assembly, a support assembly that includes first and second portions respectively slidably positionable along a length of the first and second support members and selectively engaging the first and second support members to lock the first and second portions at a selected position along the length of the first and second support members, a center portion having first and second portions, wherein the first and second ends of the center portion are adapted to couple with the first and second portions subsequent to the first and second portions being positioned along the length of the first and second portions, and a vehicle accessory arrangement coupled to the support assembly.
Fifth wheel hitch support assembly
A vehicle accessory mounting assembly for mounting a vehicle accessory to a vehicle fame assembly includes first and second support members adapted to couple to the frame assembly, a support assembly that includes first and second portions respectively slidably positionable along a length of the first and second support members and selectively engaging the first and second support members to lock the first and second portions at a selected position along the length of the first and second support members, a center portion having first and second portions, wherein the first and second ends of the center portion are adapted to couple with the first and second portions subsequent to the first and second portions being positioned along the length of the first and second portions, and a vehicle accessory arrangement coupled to the support assembly.
Vehicle structure
A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame and a beam. The vehicle frame has a first side member and a second side member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and a cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction from the first side member to the second side member perpendicular to the first side member and the second side member. A first end of the beam is connected to one of the first side member or the second side member at a location spaced apart from the cross-member. A second end of the beam is connected to the cross-member at a location spaced apart from both the first side member and the second side member such that the beam is angularly offset from the cross-member with an angle of between 35 and 60 degrees defined between the cross-member and the beam.
Vehicle lower portion structure
In a vehicle lower portion structure, a plurality of cross members are suspended along a vehicle width direction between a pair of side rails. Further, an oil pan guard is suspended along a longitudinal direction between a No. 2 cross member and a No. 3 cross member to protect an oil pan of a transmission from below. When a vehicle collides on its front, engagement between the oil pan guard and the cross member is released, to thereby prevent a decrease in the amount of collision energy to be absorbed by the pair of side rails.
Vehicle lower portion structure
In a vehicle lower portion structure, a plurality of cross members are suspended along a vehicle width direction between a pair of side rails. Further, an oil pan guard is suspended along a longitudinal direction between a No. 2 cross member and a No. 3 cross member to protect an oil pan of a transmission from below. When a vehicle collides on its front, engagement between the oil pan guard and the cross member is released, to thereby prevent a decrease in the amount of collision energy to be absorbed by the pair of side rails.
Vehicle body structure
A vehicle body structure includes a front side member, a body attachment structure and an off-center impact structure. The front side member defines a hollow interior, an outboard wall and an inboard wall. The body attachment structure is attached to the outboard wall of the front side member. The off-center impact structure has a first end portion, a second end portion and a main section extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. The first end portion extends through an outboard forward opening and into the hollow interior of the front side member and is rigidly connected to the front side member forward of the body attachment structure. The second end portion is attached to the front side member at a location rearward of the body attachment structure with the main section extending outboard of the body attachment structure.