Belly pan and energy absorption system for a motor vehicle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMatthew B. Makowski, Aileen M. DeVoe, Se Kyoon Shin, Laike Misikir, Luis Rafael Reyes Flores, Djamal Eddine Midoun
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A belly pan is provided for a motor vehicle. The belly pan includes a body having at least one stiffener with a forwardmost zone of peak section force F1, an intermediate zone of peak section force F2 and a rearwardmost zone of peak section force F3 where F1<F2<F3. Advantageously, the belly pan functions to provide pedestrian protection while simultaneously limiting vehicle damage resulting from a low-speed collision.
Claims19
A belly pan for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a body including at least one stiffener having a forwardmost zone with a peak section force F1, an intermediate zone with a peak section force F2 and a rearwardmost zone with a peak section force F3 wherein F1<F2<F3.
An energy absorption system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle frame including a lower load path;
- and
- a belly pan forward of said lower load path, said belly pan having a body including a stiffener having a forwardmost zone with a peak section force F1, an intermediate zone with a peak section force F2 and a rearwardmost zone with a peak section force F3 where F1<F2<F3.
A method of enhancing pedestrian safety while minimizing low speed collision damage to a motor vehicle, comprising:
- equipping said motor vehicle with a belly pan providing gradually increasing levels of stiffness from a forwardmost zone to a rearwardmost zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.