Hybrid vehicle packaging system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsPaul Elia, Justin I. Thakolkaran, Corey John Jarocki, William Moore Sherwood, John Patrick Doyle, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle includes a fuel tank, a battery, a first exoskeleton, and a second exoskeleton. The fuel tank and the battery straddle a driveline and are each disposed below a seating area. The first exoskeleton has a first pair of rails secured to each other by a first cross member. The second exoskeleton has a second pair of rails secured to each other by a second cross member. The first and second exoskeletons surround the fuel tank and battery, respectively, and are configured to absorb energy during an impact to protect the fuel tank and battery.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- a fuel tank and a battery straddling a driveline and disposed below a seating area;
- a first exoskeleton having a first pair of rails secured to each other by a first cross member;
- and
- a second exoskeleton having a second pair of rails secured to each other by a second cross member, wherein the first and second exoskeletons surround the fuel tank and battery, respectively, and are configured to absorb impact energy.
A vehicle comprising:
- a driveline;
- a cabin floor;
- a fuel tank and a battery straddling the driveline and disposed below the floor;
- and
- a frame having,
- a first pair of rails extending along a direction of the driveline, each of the first pair of rails disposed on opposing sides of the fuel tank from the other,
- a first cross member spanning the first pair of rails such that the first pair of rails and the first cross member form a first cage that surrounds the fuel tank and absorbs energy during an impact event,
- a second pair of rails extending along the direction of the driveline, each of the second pair of rails disposed on opposing sides of the battery from the other, and
- a second cross member spanning the second pair of rails such that the second pair of rails and the second cross member form a second cage that surrounds the battery and absorbs energy during an impact event.
A vehicle comprising:
- a pair of rails defining a driveshaft routing tunnel;
- a fuel tank and a battery disposed on opposing sides of the pair of rails and below a cabin floor;
- a first side rail disposed adjacent to the fuel tank opposite of a first of the pair of rails;
- a first cross member abridging the first of the pair of rails and the first side rail to form a first cage that surrounds the fuel tank configured to absorb energy during an impact event;
- a second side rail disposed adjacent to the battery opposite of a second of the pair of rails;
- and
- a second cross member abridging the second of the pair of rails and the second side rail to form a second cage that surrounds the battery configured to absorb energy during an impact event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.