Abstract:
An automotive vehicle includes a wedge fixed by shear connections to a structural member. Upon application of a rearward force, the wedge shears free and moves between the structural member and a wheel assembly where it rotationally displaces a vehicle tire. The rearward force also laterally displaces the body of the vehicle. The wedge is tethered to the structural member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a kinematic enhancement device for automotive wheel assemblies. 
     In an impact event, automotive components may be displaced due to applied forces. An automotive vehicle may include a structural frame and body, which may absorb energy in the event of an impact event. A wheel assembly mounted outboard of a frame rail may become displaced during the impact event and the displacement may be in an orientation that is less desirable than displacements in other orientations or directions. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     An embodiment contemplates an automotive vehicle. The vehicle includes a body having a structural member. A wedge is fixed by a shear connection to the member in front of a vehicle wheel assembly. The wedge is configured to, when subjected to a rearward force, shear free from the member and move between the body and wheel assembly to displace the wheel assembly from the body. 
     Another embodiment contemplates a method of deflecting a vehicle collision. A rearward force shears a wedge from a structural member of an automotive vehicle body. The wedge is moved rearward to displace a wheel assembly from the body. 
     An advantage of an embodiment is that the wheel assembly is displaced outboard of the body, which may be desirable during an impact event. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an automotive vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an automotive vehicle. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an automotive vehicle. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an automotive vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an automotive vehicle  8  having a body  10  and a kinematic wedge  12 . Illustrated is a front right corner of the vehicle  8 . As understood by one skilled in the art, the kinematic wedge  12  illustrated for the front right corner may also be included at a left front corner of the vehicle  8  or elsewhere in the vehicle  8 . 
     The kinematic wedge  12  has a stub leg  14 , a first leg  16 , and a second leg  18 . The first leg  16  has a first face  20  and the second leg  18  has a second face  22 . The second leg  18  has a closing piece  24 . The closing piece  24  is a plate interposed between the second leg  18  and a structural member  26  that distributes forces applied to the wedge  12  to the structural member  26 . The wedge  12  is fabricated from a suitable material such as high grade steel and is fabricated to standards for an automotive vehicle structural frame. 
     The stub leg  14  and the closing piece  24  are fixed to the structural member  26  by first and second shear connections  28  and  30 , respectively. The first and second shear connections  28  and  30  may be any appropriate fixing means known to one skilled in the art to produce a shear connection. For example, the first and second shear connections  28  and  30  may be weld connections or bolt connections. Alternatively, the wedge  12  may be fixed to the structural member  26  by only the shear connection  28  with the second leg  18  being cantilevered or the wedge  12  may be fixed to the structural member  26  by only the shear connection  30  with the stub leg  14  and first leg  16  being cantilevered. Additionally, the wedge  12  is secured to the structural member  26  (or other vehicle structure) by a tether  32 . The tether  32  is a flexible cable that limits movement of the wedge  12  when the first and second connections  28  and  30  are sheared free. 
     The structural member  26  may be part of the structural frame for the vehicle  8 . For example, the structural member  26  may be a longitudinally extending side rail. A laterally extending bumper rail  34  may be mounted to a frontend of the side rail. Alternatively to the first connection  28 , then, the wedge  12  may be fixed by a shear connection to the bumper rail  34 . The bumper rail  34  may have a bumper overhang  35  extending laterally outboard of the structural member  26 . The bumper overhang  35  may be considered a non-structural element in regards to absorbing impact loads. 
     Also included in the vehicle  8  is a wheel assembly  36 . As illustrated, the wheel assembly  36  is a front right wheel. As understood by one skilled in the art, the wheel assembly  36  may be for a different wheel location on the vehicle  8  than the front right wheel. As illustrated, the wheel assembly  36  is for a rear wheel drive vehicle. As understood by one skilled in the art, the wheel assembly  36  may also be for other powertrains such as front or all wheel drive vehicles. The wheel assembly  36  may be a typical automotive vehicle wheel assembly as understood by one skilled in the art and may include a tire  38 , a strut  40 , and an additional suspension and steering assembly  42 . The additional suspension and steering assembly  42  may be typical of the attachment points known to one skilled in the art for the typical wheel assembly. For example, additional suspension and steering assembly  42  may include suspension linkages, control arms, steering knuckles, etc. 
     An obtuse first angle  44  is formed between the first face  20  and the member  26 . A lateral span  46  extends from the member  26  to beyond an inboard face  48  of the tire  38 . An obtuse second angle  50  is formed between the second face  22  and the member  26 . 
       FIG. 2  will now be discussed with reference to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  schematically illustrates the wedge  12  of  FIG. 1  having sheared free and moved rearward between the structural member  26  and the tire  38  due to an impact event. 
     A rearward directed force  144  has been applied by an object to the vehicle  8  outboard of the member  26 . The rearward force has deformed or sheared the bumper overhang  35  free from the bumper rail  34  (the former location of the bumper overhang  35  is shown by phantom lines). The rearward force  144  has also moved the wedge  12  from a pre-impact position  12 ′ (shown in phantom) to between the structural member  26  and the wheel and tire  38 . The object causing the rearward force  144  has sheared free the first and second connections  28  and  30 , allowing the wedge  12  to be driven rearward along the structural member  26 . However, the wedge  12  remains tethered to the member  26  by the tether  32 , which prevents the wedge  12  from complete separation from the vehicle  8  after being sheared free. 
     The wedge  12 , having moved from the position  12 ′ to the illustrated position between the structural member  26  and the tire  38 , displaces the tire  38  by rotating the tire  38  up and away from the body  10  in a rotational direction  146 . The tire  38  rotates about a connection point  41  between the strut  40  and the body  10 . The rotation of the tire  38  may sever portions of the additional suspension  42 . 
     The rearward force  144  may also displace the body  10  in a lateral direction  148 . For example, if the body  10  is moving in a forward direction  150  when the rearward force  144  is applied, then in addition to moving the wedge  12  rearward to displace the tire  38  in the rotational direction  146 , the rearward force  144  may also displace the body  10  in a lateral direction  148 . 
     The lateral direction  148  is generally perpendicular to the forward direction  150 . Alternatively, if the body  10  is not moving in the forward direction  150  when the rearward force  144  is applied, in addition to the wedge  12  being moved rearward and rotationally displacing the tire  38 , then the body  10  may still be displaced in the lateral direction  148 . 
     By the first angle  44  being obtuse, the rearward force  144  (caused by an object impacting the wedge  12 ) will have components that both move the wedge  12  rearward and laterally displace the body  10  in the lateral direction  148 . For example, the first angle  44  may be 30°. 
     Extension of the wedge  12  beyond the inboard face  48  ensures that the wedge  12  will make contact with the wheel assembly  36  so that the wedge  12  rotationally displaces the tire  38 . Reducing the second angle  50  towards a right angle increases the rotational displacement of the wheel assembly  36 . To rotationally displace the wheel assembly  36  as desired, the second angle  50  should not be acute. 
     Continued application of the rearward force  144  may move the wedge  12  beyond the position illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Moving the wedge  12  beyond the position illustrated in  FIG. 2  may continue to rotationally displace the tire  38  and laterally displace the body  10  so that the tire  38  is rotationally displaced clear of the body  10 . 
       FIG. 3  schematically illustrates an automotive vehicle  208  having a body  210  and a kinematic wedge  212 . Because  FIG. 3  is a variation of  FIG. 1 , like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the drawings and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The wedge  212  has a straight first leg  216  fixed to a bumper rail  234 . 
       FIG. 4  schematically illustrates an automotive vehicle  308  having a body  310  and a kinematic wedge  312 . Because  FIG. 3  is a variation of  FIG. 1 , like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the drawings and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The wedge  312  has a straight first leg  316  nearly perpendicular to a structural member  326  and a second leg  318  that is straight. 
     While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.