Vehicle energy management system with tether for tire and wheel assembly
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsCharles E. Jensen, Robert N. Saje, Jonathan E. Rich, Michael E. Quigley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy management system for a vehicle limits movement of a tire and wheel assembly in a wheel cavity. The vehicle has a wheel well structure that defines the wheel cavity. The energy management system includes a tether attached to the tire and wheel assembly. The tether is configured to limit movement of the tire and wheel assembly within the wheel cavity under a predetermined load that is applied to the vehicle forward of the tire and wheel assembly and offset from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.
Claims20
An energy management system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has a wheel well structure defining a wheel cavity, and a tire and wheel assembly in the wheel cavity, the energy management system comprising:
- a tether attached to the tire and wheel assembly and configured to limit movement of the tire and wheel assembly within the wheel cavity under a predetermined load that is applied to the vehicle forward of the tire and wheel assembly and offset from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle;
- wherein the tether includes a cable portion, a first end connector connected to a first end of the cable portion, and a second end connector connected to a second end of the cable portion;
- and
- wherein the first end connector has a first lug, and the second end connector has a second lug.
A vehicle comprising:
- a wheel well structure defining a wheel cavity;
- a tire and wheel assembly in the wheel cavity;
- wherein the tire and wheel assembly includes a wheel, and a steering knuckle operatively connected to the wheel;
- a lower control arm operatively connected to the steering wheel;
- an energy management system including a tether attached to the tire and wheel assembly and configured to limit movement of the tire and wheel assembly in the wheel cavity under a load that is applied to the vehicle forward of the tire and wheel assembly and offset from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the tether is attached to the lower control arm and to the steering knuckle.
A vehicle comprising:
- a wheel well structure defining a wheel cavity;
- a tire and wheel assembly in the wheel cavity;
- wherein the tire and wheel assembly includes a wheel, and a steering knuckle operatively connected to the wheel;
- an engine cradle;
- an energy management system including a tether attached to the tire and wheel assembly and configured to limit movement of the tire and wheel assembly in the wheel cavity under a load that is applied to the vehicle forward of the tire and wheel assembly and offset from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the tether is attached to the engine cradle and to the steering knuckle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.