Patent ID: 7770927
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: B60R,B62D

Abstract:
1. An energy absorbing system for a vehicle, said system comprising: a cradle for supporting an engine of the vehicle; wherein said cradle includes a pair of lower side rails extending in spaced relationship and a front cross-member presenting a C-shaped profile, when viewed from a bottom view, and extending transverse to and interconnecting said pair of lower side rails; junctions defined between said front cross-member and each of said lower side rails; a lower member presenting a C-shaped profile, when viewed from a bottom view, corresponding to the C-shaped profile of the front cross-member extending between a pair of ends; wherein each of said pair of ends of the lower member have arcuate shaped ends that are attached to said cradle at a respective one of said junctions by an arcuate joint, such that said lower member extends from said cradle, the arcuate ends corresponding to the C-shaped profile of the front cross-member, when viewed from a bottom view, and arranged such that the respective outer ends of the lower member lie in the same longitudinal and horizontal plane as that of the lower side rails; wherein said lower member is configured to dissipate energy and deform upon impact of the vehicle with said lower member; wherein said lower member is configured to dissipate energy by distributing a force from the impact of the vehicle with said lower member through each of said ends to each of said lower side rails; and wherein said lower member and said cradle define a compaction zone therebetween for receiving a portion of said lower member upon deformation of said lower member.