Multi-beam side frame assembly
AssigneeShape Corp.
InventorMatthew Kuipers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A side frame assembly for a vehicle includes a rocker structure and an inboard stiffening beam. The rocker structure includes a metal sheet that has longitudinal bends along a length of the rocker structure separating the upper wall, the lower wall, and the inner wall of the rocker structure. The inboard stiffening beam is disposed along an inboard-facing surface of the inner wall of the rocker structure. The inboard stiffening beam includes a second metal sheet that is formed to define a tubular shape along a length of the inboard stiffening beam. The tubular shape includes a planar upper wall and/or a planar lower wall, the planar extent of which intersects a portion of the rocker structure, such as the inner wall, to form a lateral load path from the rocker structure to the tubular shape of inboard stiffening beam.
Claims19
A side frame assembly for a vehicle, the side frame assembly comprising:
- a rocker structure having an upper wall, a lower wall, and an inner wall together extending along a length of the rocker structure, the rocker structure comprising a first metal sheet that has longitudinal bends along a length of the rocker structure separating the upper wall, the lower wall, and the inner wall of the rocker structure;
- and
- an inboard stiffening beam disposed along an inboard-facing surface of the inner wall of the rocker structure, the inboard stiffening beam comprising a second metal sheet formed to define an enclosed tubular shape along a length of the inboard stiffening beam, the enclosed tubular shape having at least one of a planar upper wall or a planar lower wall,
- wherein a planar extent of the planar upper wall or the planar lower wall intersects a portion of the rocker structure to form a lateral load path from the rocker structure to the enclosed tubular shape of inboard stiffening beam.
A side frame assembly for a vehicle, the side frame assembly comprising:
- a rocker structure having a first metal sheet extending along a length of the rocker structure;
- and
- an inboard stiffening beam disposed along an inboard-facing surface the rocker structure, the inboard stiffening beam comprising a second metal sheet extending at least partially along the length of the rocker structure,
- wherein the second metal sheet is formed to define a tubular shape with a planar wall bordering the tubular shape,
- wherein the planar wall of the inboard stiffening beam defines a lateral impact load path that extends from an outer side wall of the rocker structure to an inner side wall of the inboard stiffening beam along the planar wall of the tubular shape, and
- wherein the second metal sheet includes longitudinal bends that form a multi-tubular shape.
A side frame assembly for a vehicle, the side frame assembly comprising:
- a rocker structure comprising an inner sill having an upper wall, a lower wall, and an inner wall together extending along a length of the rocker structure, the inner sill comprising a first metal sheet that has longitudinal bends along a length of the rocker structure separating the upper wall, the lower wall, and the inner wall of the inner sill;
- and
- an inboard stiffening beam disposed along an inboard-facing surface of the inner wall of the inner sill, the inboard stiffening beam comprising a second metal sheet formed to define two enclosed tubular shapes along a length of the inboard stiffening beam, and at least one of the two enclosed tubular shapes having at least one planar lower wall,
- wherein a planar extent of the planar lower wall intersects the inner wall of the inner sill to form a lateral load path from the rocker structure to the inboard stiffening beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.