Energy distributing side structure for vehicle side impact occupant protection
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorRyan Craig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy distributing side structure for a vehicle is disclosed. The side structure includes a B-pillar having a wide base and an internal reinforcing tube, a rocker having an internal bulkhead, a rear rocker, and at least one cross-member extending vehicle-inward from the rocker. The cross-member may extend to the vehicle tunnel and may be attached to a tunnel brace. One or more additional cross-members may be provided which also extend vehicle-inward from the rocker and define secondary load paths. By this arrangement loading is transferred to the floor and cross-members of the vehicle during a lateral impact event.
Claims20
An energy distributing side structure for a vehicle comprising:
- a rocker having an internal bulkhead;
- a pillar attached to said rocker, said pillar having an internal reinforcing structure, said internal bulkhead of said rocker being adjacent said pillar;
- a reinforcing webbing attached to said rocker;
- and
- an energy transferring cross-member extending vehicle inward from said rocker, whereby said rocker, said pillar and said webbing can receive an impacting load which is transferred to said cross-member.
An energy distributing side structure for a vehicle having a tunnel comprising:
- a rocker having internal reinforcement;
- a pillar attached to said rocker, said pillar having internal reinforcement;
- a reinforcing webbing connected to said rocker;
- a first cross-member extending vehicle inward from said rocker to the vehicle tunnel, said first cross-member defining a primary load path;
- and
- a second cross-member extending vehicle inward from said rocker, said second cross-member being spaced apart from said first cross-member and defining a secondary load path.
An energy distributing side structure for a vehicle comprising:
- a rocker having internal reinforcement;
- a pillar attached to said rocker, said pillar having internal reinforcement;
- a webbing connected to said rocker;
- and
- an energy transferring cross-member extending vehicle inward from said rocker, whereby energy from an impacting load is distributed to the surrounding vehicle thereby minimizing deformation of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.