Method and apparatus for offset impact testing of vehicle components at a sub-system level
AssigneeChrysler Corporation
InventorsHari K. Kosaraju, Scott A. Esposito, James Chapp, Jr., Joseph Vitous, Samuel Shamir, Randy J. Spitler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for offset impact testing of vehicle components at a sub-system level includes a mobile unit and a vehicle sub-system. In an exemplary application, the vehicle sub-system includes a toe-board and a torque box. A mounting flange is secured to the vehicle sub-system and provides for releasable attachment of the vehicle sub-system to the mobile unit. By advancing the mobile unit into a rigid barrier at a predetermined speed, full-scale toe-board intrusion and torque box crush can be accurately predicted at a significantly reduced cost and time.
Claims7
An impact testing arrangement for impact testing a motor vehicle at a sub-system level, the impact testing arrangement comprising:
- a mobile unit;
- a vehicle sub-assembly extracted from a vehicle shell including a torque box, a toe-board, a suspension cross-member, a rail an extension attached to said cross member for ensuring direct loading of impact forces to said torque box and
- a mounting flange secured to said vehicle sub-assembly, said mounting flange being removably attached to said mobile unit;
- whereby the impact testing arrangement is used to predict full-scale testing results.
An impact testing arrangement for impact testing a motor vehicle to predict full-scale toe-board intrusion and torque box crush at a sub-system level, the arrangement comprising:
- a mobile unit;
- a vehicle sub-assembly extracted from a vehicle shell to including a torque box;
- a toe-board, a portion of a vehicle sill, a suspension cross-member and a portion of a forwardly extending rail;
- a mounting flange secured to said vehicle sub-assembly, said mounting flange being removably attached to said mobile unit;
- a rigid barrier;
- and
- an extension member attached to said cross-member adapted to impact said rigid barrier and direct loading of impact forces to said torque box.
A method of impact testing a vehicle sub-system including a toe-board and torque box, the method comprising the steps of:
- extracting the subassembly from a vehicle shell to include a cross member;
- removably mounting the vehicle subassembly to a mobile unit;
- attaching an extension member to the cross member of the subassembly;
- advancing the mobile unit toward a rigid barrier;
- impacting the vehicle sub-assembly into the rigid barrier at a predetermined speed;
- directing impact forces from said extension member to the torque box;
- and
- analyzing the sub-assembly to assess intrusion of the toe-board and crush of the torque box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.