Vehicle body deformation control assembly
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsSae U Park, Madhu R Koka
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle body assembly including a portion that is subject to deformation during vehicle impact events includes a body component, and at least one deformation control plate carried by the vehicle body assembly to engage the body component and inhibit deformation of the body component beyond a threshold amount. The deformation control plate is arranged to engage with the frame component only when the frame component is deformed beyond a first amount. Further deformation of the frame component bends or otherwise deforms the deformation control plate which provides a force resisting further deformation of the frame component and also dissipates the kinetic impact energy away from the deforming area of the frame component.
Claims16
A vehicle body assembly including a portion that is subject to deformation during vehicle impact events, comprising:
- a vehicle body component subject to deformation during at least some vehicle impact events;
- and
- at least one deformation control plate coupled to the vehicle body assembly such that at least one end of the at least one deformation control plate is cantilevered adjacent to the vehicle body component to provide a first force on the vehicle body component during deformation of the vehicle body component up to a threshold amount and to provide an increased force on the vehicle body component after the vehicle body component has been deformed the threshold amount to inhibit deformation of the vehicle body component beyond the threshold amount.
A vehicle body assembly including a portion that is subject to deformation during vehicle impact events and a passenger cabin, comprising:
- a frame component disposed adjacent to the passenger cabin;
- and
- at least one deformation control plate coupled to the vehicle body assembly with a portion disposed between the frame component and the passenger cabin, the at least one deformation control plate coupled to the vehicle body assembly such that at least one end of the at least one deformation control plate is cantilevered to engage the frame component upon deformation of the frame component beyond a threshold amount and in a direction of the at least one deformation control plate to inhibit further deformation of the frame component in that direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.