Method and apparatus for side impact testing of motor vehicles at a sub-system level
AssigneeChrysler Corporation
InventorsHari K. Kosaraju, James Chapp, Jr., Samuel Shamir, Henry J. Kessler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for side impacting testing of motor vehicles at a sub-system level. By advancing a side impact barrier into the vehicle shell mounted on the fixture at a predetermined speed, full-scale crashworthiness for side impact collisions can be predicted, thereby significantly reducing development cost and time. The fixture includes a base for supporting the vehicle shell, a side portion for reinforcing a lateral side of the vehicle shell and protecting against deformation and a roll-over prevention structure. The fixture additionally includes a plurality of casters attached to the base.
Claims11
A fixture for impact testing a vehicle shell to predict vehicle crashworthiness at a sub-system level, the fixture comprising:
- a base for supporting the vehicle shell, said base including an upper surface for securing the vehicle shell thereto;
- a side support structure interconnected to said base, said side support structure operative to reduce deformation to a first lateral side of the vehicle shell when a second lateral side of the vehicle shell is subjected to impact;
- a plurality of castors attached to said base;
- and
- a roll-over prevention structure interconnected to said base and upwardly extending relative thereto, said roll-over prevention structure operative to prevent the vehicle shell from rolling over when subjected to impact, said roll-over prevention structure including a substantially horizontal member and a substantially vertical member, said substantially horizontal member adapted to be disposed immediately superadjacent to a roof of the vehicle shell and fixedly attached thereto, said substantially vertical member interbetween said base and said substantially horizontal member.
The fixture for impact testing a vehicle shell of 1, wherein each castor of said plurality of castors is vertically adjustable for positioning the vehicle shell at a desired height.
A fixture for impact testing a vehicle shell to predict full-scale crashworthiness in side impact collisions at a sub-system level, the fixture comprising:
- a base for supporting the vehicle shell at a predetermined height, said base including first and second horizontal, spaced-apart beams;
- an intermediate portion interconnecting said first and second beams;
- a plurality of castors attached to said base;
- and
- an upwardly extending portion interconnected to said base and operative for preventing rollover of the vehicle shell when subjected to impact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.