Electric vehicle strut tower to body structure interface bracket
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDragan B. Stojkovic, Gary E. Sheaffer, II, Steve William Gallagher, Joshua Jacob Clement
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric vehicle frame strut tower to body structure interface bracket is disclosed. An example electric vehicle disclosed herein includes a frame, a battery pack supported by the frame, a body coupled to the frame, a strut tower coupled to the frame to support the body and absorb road surface impacts on the electric vehicle, and a strut tower interface bracket to couple the strut tower to the body.
Claims17
An electric vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- a battery pack supported by the frame;
- a body coupled to the frame;
- a strut tower coupled to the frame to support the body and absorb road surface impacts on the electric vehicle;
- and
- a strut tower interface bracket to couple the strut tower to the body, the strut tower interface bracket including:
- a first interface including a first mounting feature and a second mounting feature to enable the first interface to be coupled to the strut tower, the first interface including a tapered edge to enable the first interface to be coupled to the strut tower;
- a second interface including a third mounting feature and a fourth mounting feature to enable the second interface to be coupled to the body, the second interface perpendicular to the first interface;
- and
- a third interface perpendicular to the first interface and the second interface, the third interface having a curvature to enable the third interface to be coupled to a strut cap of the strut tower.
An electric vehicle comprising:
- a strut tower coupled to a frame of the electric vehicle;
- and
- a strut tower interface bracket to couple the strut tower to a body of the electric vehicle, the strut tower interface bracket sized to partially surround the strut tower, the strut tower interface bracket including:
- a first interface including a first mounting feature and a second mounting feature to enable the first interface to be coupled to the strut tower, the first interface including a tapered edge to enable the first interface to be coupled to the strut tower;
- a second interface including a third mounting feature and a fourth mounting feature to enable the second interface to be coupled to the body, the second interface perpendicular to the first interface;
- and
- a third interface perpendicular to the first interface and the second interface, the third interface having a curvature to enable the third interface to be coupled to a strut cap of the strut tower.
An apparatus to be coupled between a body of an electric vehicle and a strut tower, the apparatus comprising:
- a first interface including a first mounting feature and a second mounting feature to enable the first interface to be coupled to the strut tower, the first interface including a tapered edge to enable the first interface to be coupled to the strut tower;
- a second interface including a third mounting feature and a fourth mounting feature to enable the second interface to be coupled to the body, the second interface perpendicular to the first interface;
- and
- a third interface perpendicular to the first interface and the second interface, the third interface having a curvature to enable the third interface to be coupled to a strut cap of the strut tower.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.