# US 9,751,567 B2 · Rail assembly for controlled lateral deformation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,567 B2 - Document ID: US9751567B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/960,617 - Filed: 2015-12-07 - Published: 2017-06-08 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-07 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Thomas M. Siberski; Andrew W. White - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751567B2 ## CPC - B62D 21/157: {for side impacts} - B62D 25/025: {Side sills thereof} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A rail assembly configured to limit a lateral deformation of an intermediate portion of the rail assembly to a predetermined lateral deformation when the rail assembly is subjected to an external force includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a web portion. The inner portion has an inner wall. The outer portion has an outer wall and is attached to the inner portion. The inner portion and the outer portion together form a hollow rail. The web portion is configured with a deformation initiator, disposed inside of the hollow rail, and attached to the inner wall of the inner portion and the outer wall of the outer portion. The web portion is configured to limit the lateral deformation of the intermediate portion of the rail assembly to the predetermined lateral deformation when the rail assembly is subjected to the external force. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rail assembly configured to limit a lateral deformation of an intermediate portion of the rail assembly to a predetermined lateral deformation when the rail assembly is subjected to an external force, comprising: an inner portion having an inner wall; an outer portion having an outer wall and attached to the inner portion, wherein the inner portion and the outer portion together form a hollow rail; and a web portion having a central portion, a first flange, and a second flange and configured with a deformation initiator, the web portion disposed inside of the hollow rail, and attached to the inner wall of the inner portion and the outer wall of the outer portion; wherein the deformation initiator is configured to limit the lateral deformation of the intermediate portion of the rail assembly to the predetermined lateral deformation when the rail assembly is subjected to the external force; and wherein the deformation initiator extends from the central portion of the web portion to at least one of the first and second flanges of the web portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the web portion has a first end; wherein the intermediate portion of the rail assembly is disposed between the deformation initiator and the first end of the web portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the web portion has a thickness; and wherein the web portion is configured to limit the lateral deformation of the intermediate portion of the rail assembly to the predetermined lateral deformation when the rail assembly is subjected to the external force by the thickness of the web portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the web portion is made of a material; and wherein the web portion is configured to limit the lateral deformation of the intermediate portion of the rail assembly to the predetermined lateral deformation when the rail assembly is subjected to the external force by the material of the web portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the web portion has a length; and wherein the web portion is configured to limit the lateral deformation of the intermediate portion of the rail assembly to the predetermined lateral deformation when the rail assembly is subjected to the external force by the length of the web portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the rail assembly includes a plurality of web portions each configured with a deformation initiator, disposed inside of the hollow rail, and attached to the inner wall of the inner portion and the outer wall of the outer portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformation initiator is an opening formed in the web portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The rail assembly of claim 7, wherein the opening is a slot. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the web portion is configured with a plurality of deformation initiators. ### Claim 10 A vehicle subjectable to an external force, comprising: a body structure having a rail assembly, including: a rail inner portion having a substantially vertical inner wall; a rail outer portion having a substantially vertical outer wall and attached to the rail inner portion, wherein the rail inner portion and the rail outer portion together form a hollow rail; and a horizontal web portion having a central portion, a first flange, and a second flange and configured with a deformation initiator, the horizontal web portion being disposed inside of the hollow rail, and attached to the inner wall of the rail inner portion and the outer wall of the rail outer portion; wherein the deformation initiator is configured to limit a lateral deformation of an intermediate portion of the rail assembly to a predetermined lateral deformation when the vehicle is subjected to the external force; and wherein the deformation initiator extends from the central portion of the horizontal web portion to at least one of the first and second flanges of the horizontal web portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the horizontal web portion has a first end; and wherein the intermediate portion of the rail assembly is disposed between the deformation initiator and the first end of the horizontal web portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the horizontal web portion has a thickness and a length and is made of a material; and wherein the horizontal web portion is configured to limit the lateral deformation of the intermediate portion of the rail assembly to the predetermined lateral deformation when the rail assembly is subjected to the external force by at least one of the thickness of the horizontal web portion, the length of the horizontal web portion, and the material of the horizontal web portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the deformation initiator is an opening formed in the horizontal web portion. ### Claim 14 A vehicle subjectable to an external force, comprising: a body structure, including: a front body hinge pillar; a number two bar; a floor panel; and a rocker rail assembly attached to the front body hinge pillar, the number two bar, and the floor panel, the rocker rail assembly including: a rocker rail inner having a substantially vertical inner wall; a rocker rail outer having a substantially vertical outer wall and attached to the rocker rail inner, wherein the rocker rail inner and the rocker rail outer together form a hollow rail having a front end; and a horizontal web having a front end and configured with a deformation initiator, disposed inside of the hollow rail, and attached to the inner wall of the rocker rail inner and the outer wall of the rocker rail outer; wherein the horizontal web is configured to limit a lateral deformation of an intermediate portion of the rocker rail assembly to a predetermined lateral deformation when the vehicle is subjected to the external force; and wherein the front end of the horizontal web is located proximate to the front end of the hollow rail; and wherein the rear end of the horizontal web is located proximate to the number two bar. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the deformation initiator is disposed between the front body hinge pillar and the number two bar; and wherein the intermediate portion of the rocker rail assembly is disposed between the deformation initiator and the number two bar. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the horizontal web has a thickness and a length and is made of a material; and wherein at least one of the thickness of the horizontal web, the length of the horizontal web, and the material of the horizontal web is configured to limit the lateral deformation of the intermediate portion of the rocker rail assembly to the predetermined lateral deformation when the vehicle is subjected to the external force. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the deformation initiator is an opening formed in the horizontal web; and wherein the opening is configured to limit the lateral deformation of the intermediate portion of the rocker rail assembly to the predetermined lateral deformation when the vehicle is subjected to the external force. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the horizontal web is configured with a plurality of deformation initiators.