# US 11,897,543 B2 · Vehicle chassis shear plate

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- Number: US 11,897,543 B2
- Document ID: US11897543B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/385,065
- Filed: 2021-07-26
- Published: 2023-01-26
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2021-07-26
- Assignees: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
- Applicants: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
- Inventors: Allen Orchard; Jiacheng Huang; Vamsi Charan Pulugurtha
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897543B2

## CPC

- B62D 21/06: of X-shaped or fork-shaped construction, i.e. having members which form an X or fork as the frame is seen in plan view
- B62D 21/15: 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)
- B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion
- B62D 21/11: with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions}
- B62D 21/155: {Sub-frames or underguards}
- B62D 27/023: {Assembly of structural joints}
- B60K 2001/0438: {Arrangement under the floor}
- B60Y 2306/01: Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

A vehicle includes a battery system arranged in a central region. The battery system includes corners corresponding to corners of an end of the vehicle, and respective chassis components are arranged at each corner. Respective shear brackets are affixed to the vehicle frame to a respective chassis component. The shear brackets are configured to absorb energy from the chassis components during deceleration events. The chassis components may include a knuckle configured to engage with the frame at an interface, to which the shear bracket may be added. Each shear bracket is formed from metal, such as sheet metal, and includes mounting features such as holes or studs to affix to the frame. The shear brackets are configured to limit intrusion of the chassis components into the battery system by absorbing energy. A bolt or fastener affixing a chassis component to the frame is strengthened by the shear bracket.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assembly comprising:
a first end of a shear bracket affixed at a first location of a frame element;
a second end of the shear bracket affixed to a second location of the frame element through a suspension component, wherein the suspension component couples a wheel to the frame element, wherein the shear bracket is configured to absorb energy from the suspension component associated with a deceleration event to reduce energy transferring to a battery system, and wherein the second location is forward of the first location and of the battery system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery system is affixed to the frame element, and wherein the shear bracket is configured to absorb the energy to maintain a gap between the battery system and the suspension component.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the suspension component comprises a knuckle, and wherein the shear bracket is bolted through the knuckle to a mounting feature of the frame element at the second location of the frame element to reduce the energy transferring to the battery system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shear bracket comprises:
a first hole configured to be aligned to the first location of the frame element; and
a second hole configured to be aligned to the second location of the frame element, wherein the shear bracket is configured to absorb the energy between the first location and the second location.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shear bracket comprises a sheet metal material configured to provide stiffness against displacement of the suspension component toward the first location, wherein the stiffness further reduces the energy transferring to the battery system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shear bracket is configured to buckle between the first location and the second location to reduce the energy transferring to the battery system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a first bolt for affixing the shear bracket at the first location of the frame element; and
a second bolt for affixing the shear bracket at the second location of the frame element, wherein the second bolt also affixes the shear bracket and the suspension component at the second location, and wherein the first and second bolts affix the shear bracket to the frame element to reduce the energy transferring to the battery system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein the shear bracket is configured to engage with the first bolt and with the second bolt to absorb the energy from the suspension component associated with the deceleration event.

### Claim 9

A vehicle comprising:
a battery pack affixed to a frame element;
a shear bracket affixed to the frame element at a first location and at a second location forward of the first location and of the battery pack, wherein a suspension component is affixed at the second location, wherein the suspension component couples a wheel to the frame element, and wherein the shear bracket is configured to absorb energy from the suspension component to reduce energy transferring to the battery pack.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the suspension component comprises a knuckle, and wherein the shear bracket is bolted to the frame element through the knuckle at the second location to reduce the energy transferring to the battery pack.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the shear bracket comprises a sheet metal material configured to reduce displacement of the suspension component toward the first location, wherein the reduced displacement further reduces the energy transferring to the battery pack.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the shear bracket is configured to buckle between the first location and the second location to reduce the energy transferring to the battery pack.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the shear bracket is bolted to the frame element at the first location and at the second location to absorb the energy.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising:
a first bolt engaged with a first hole arranged at the first location to affix the shear bracket to the frame element; and
a second bolt engaged with a second hole arranged at the second location to affix the shear bracket and the suspension component to the frame element at the second location.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the shear bracket is a first shear bracket, the vehicle comprising a second shear bracket affixed to a second suspension component and configured to absorb energy from the second suspension component to reduce energy transferring to the battery pack.

### Claim 16

An arrangement of a vehicle, the arrangement comprising:
a battery system comprising a first end, the first end corresponding to a first corner and a second corner of the vehicle;
a first suspension component corresponding to a first wheel arranged at the first corner of the vehicle, wherein the first suspension component is affixed to a frame at a first joint;
a second suspension component corresponding to a second wheel arranged at the second corner of the vehicle, wherein the second suspension component is affixed to the frame at a second joint;
a first shear bracket affixed to the frame at a first location and a second location forward of the first location and of the battery system, wherein the first joint is arranged at the second location, and wherein the first shear bracket is configured to absorb energy from the first joint to reduce energy transferring to the battery system; and
a second shear bracket affixed to the frame at a third location and a fourth location forward of the third location, wherein the second joint is arranged at the fourth location, and wherein the second shear bracket is configured to absorb energy from the second joint to reduce energy transferring to the battery system.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The arrangement of claim 16, further comprising:
a first frame element of the frame corresponding to the first corner, wherein the first shear bracket is affixed to the first frame element at the first location and at the second location; and
a second frame element of the frame corresponding to the second corner, wherein the second shear bracket is affixed to the second frame element at the third location and at the fourth location.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The arrangement of claim 17, wherein the first suspension component comprises a knuckle, the arrangement comprises a first fastener affixing the first shear bracket to the knuckle and to the first frame element at the second location.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the first shear bracket is configured to maintain a first gap between the battery system and the first suspension component, and wherein the second shear bracket is configured to maintain a second gap between the battery system and the second suspension component.