Abstract:
A collision countermeasure apparatus includes an impact absorbing body attached to an outboard side of a sub-frame and a rigid link. The rigid link is attached to the impact absorbing body at an outboard location and extends upward to an outer side of a frame rail. A frontal impact with a rigid barrier outboard of the frame rail drives the impact absorbing body into the link to force the link into the outer side of the frame rail. The force applied to the frame rail by the impact absorbing body laterally displaces the vehicle to reduce the extent of intrusion into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to body structures of vehicles that deflect a vehicle laterally in response to a small offset collision with a rigid barrier. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Land vehicles are tested for crashworthiness by a variety of tests including frontal impacts, side impacts, rear impacts, roll-over and other tests. Frontal impact tests were previously developed that specified that a vehicle impacts a barrier between the frame rails that extend longitudinally relative to the vehicle. In this type of test, the frame rails provide the primary support for the vehicle body. 
         [0003]    A test known as the Small Offset Rigid Barrier (SORB) test simulates small offset frontal collisions against a rigid barrier. In the proposed test, the vehicle impacts a rigid barrier having a six inch pole-like radius on one corner with a 25% overlap at 40 MPH. The impact is outboard of the frame rails so that the frame rails do not provide as much resistance to intrusion into the passenger compartment as in the case of impacts between the frame rails. 
         [0004]    The weight of land vehicles is being substantially reduced to improve fuel efficiency. Vehicles are currently being designed to reduce the weight of the vehicle with a parallel objective of not compromising performance or crashworthiness. The problems addressed by this disclosure include meeting SORB test requirements while reducing vehicle weight and reducing manufacturing costs. 
         [0005]    The above problems and other problems are addressed by this disclosure as summarized below. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    According to one aspect of this disclosure, a collision countermeasure apparatus is disclosed that comprises an impact absorbing body attached to an outboard side of a sub-frame and a rigid link. The rigid link is attached to the impact absorbing body at an outboard location and extends upward to an outer side of a frame rail. A frontal impact with a rigid barrier outboard the frame rail drives the impact absorbing body into the link to force the link into the outer side of the frame rail. 
         [0007]    According to other aspects of this disclosure, the impact absorbing body may be a closed ring that defines a central opening. The closed ring may be a circular annulus, a rectilinear closed ring, an octagonal closed ring, or the like. 
         [0008]    The rigid link may further comprise a first leg extending upwardly and rearward from a top surface of the impact absorbing body to a bend and a second leg extending laterally from the bend to the outer side of the frame rail. The first leg may be attached to the impact absorbing body and extend upward from a top surface of the impact absorbing body. A plate may be attached to the second leg that abuts the frame rail to slide along the frame rail in a full-frontal collision. 
         [0009]    The frame rail may be a first frame rail and a second frame rail may be provided that extends longitudinally and parallel to the first frame rail. A second impact absorbing body may be attached to an outboard side of the sub-frame. A second rigid link may be attached to the second impact absorbing body at an outboard location that extends upward to an outer side of the second frame rail. In a frontal impact with a rigid barrier outboard the second frame rail, the second impact absorbing body may be driven into the link to force the link into the outer side of the second frame rail. The sub-frame is attached below the first frame rail and the second frame rail in a front portion of a vehicle. 
         [0010]    A vehicle is supported by the frame rail so that a force applied by the link to the outer side of the frame rail deflects the vehicle in an inboard direction. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of this disclosure, a vehicle structure is disclosed for laterally deflecting a vehicle in a collision with a barrier outboard of the frame rails. A pair of frame rails supports the vehicle and a sub-frame is secured below the frame rails. One of a pair of impact absorbing bodies is attached to one lateral side of the sub-frame. One of a pair of links is attached to one of the bodies and extends to a plate that slides along one frame rail in a full-frontal collision. The links are configured to be laterally driven into one of the frame rails in a laterally offset collision. 
         [0012]    According to other aspects of this disclosure, the pair of impact absorbing bodies may be a pair of closed rings that define a central opening. The pair of bodies may be a pair of circular annuluses. The pair of links may each further comprise a first leg extending upwardly and rearward from a top surface of one of the pair of bodies to a bend and a second leg extending laterally from the bend to an outer side of one of the pair of frame rails. The first leg may extend upward from a top surface of one of the pair of bodies and may be attached to one of the pair of bodies. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of this disclosure, a vehicle structure is disclosed that comprises an annular ring attached to a sub-frame a link attached on a lower end to the annular ring and facing an outer wall of a frame rail on an upper end, and a plate attached to the upper end of the link. An impact force applied to the annular ring is transferred to the link to force the plate laterally into the frame rail. 
         [0014]    The frame rail may be laterally displaced when the plate is forced laterally into the frame rail. In a frontal impact, forces applied to the frame rail cause the plate to slide along the frame rail. 
         [0015]    The vehicle structure may further comprise a vehicle body supported on the frame rail that is laterally displaced when the plate is forced laterally into the frame rail. 
         [0016]    The above aspects of this disclosure and other aspects will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary top plan view of a vehicle including a sub-frame countermeasure apparatus made according to one embodiment of this disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the countermeasure apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front side perspective view of the collision countermeasure apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the collision countermeasure apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  in isolation. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is an alternative embodiment of a collision countermeasure apparatus having a rectilinear closed ring impact absorbing body. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is another alternative embodiment of a collision countermeasure apparatus having an octagonal closed ring impact absorbing body. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a prior art collision countermeasure apparatus used in comparative simulated SORB testing. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a chart showing the global lateral displacement in millimeters versus time in millisecond of a base design not including a collision countermeasure apparatus, a prior art device corresponding to the collision countermeasure apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 , and the collision countermeasure apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a chart of the global lateral velocity in meters per second in milliseconds for the base design, the prior art design, and the collision countermeasure apparatus of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended to be merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts. 
         [0027]    Relative terms for spacial relationships as referred to in this disclosure should be understood as being vehicle directions with the vehicle having a “longitudinal direction” that extends from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle. The “lateral direction” extends in the cross-vehicle direction. A “centerline” of the vehicle extends in the longitudinal direction and is at the lateral center of the vehicle. For example, the term “outboard of the frame rails” refers to a side of the frame rails that is on the opposite side of the frame rails from the centerline. The “outward direction” is the direction extending away from the centerline. 
         [0028]    The term “SORB” refers to a Small Offset Rigid Barrier test the replicates a collision of a vehicle with a rigid barrier that is outboard of the frame rails and involves less than 25% of the width of the vehicle. The term “NCAP” generally refers to a series of New Car Assessment Program tests and one of the tests is referred to as the “NCAP-Pulse” test in which a vehicle collides in a full frontal crash with a rigid barrier at a speed of 35 MPH between the frame rails of the vehicle. For brevity, the NCAP-Pulse test is referred to herein as simply “NCAP.” 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a collision countermeasure apparatus  10  is illustrated as it is attached to a vehicle  12 . The countermeasure apparatus  10  includes an impact absorbing body  14  that is attached to the sub-frame  16  of the vehicle  12 . The impact absorbing body  14  is connected by a rigid link  20  to an outer side  24  of a frame rail  26  of the vehicle  12 . An attachment plate  28  (shown in  FIGS. 3-6 ) is loaded or otherwise attached to the upper end of the rigid link  20  and is disposed between the frame rail  26  and the upper end of the rigid link  20 . The attachment plate  28  is not welded or bolted to the frame rail  26 . The attachment plate  28  (shown in  FIGS. 3-6 ) is provided to facilitate sliding displacement of the rigid link  20  relative to the frame rail  26  in a collision that occurs between the frame rails  26  of the vehicle  12 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the countermeasure apparatus  10  is shown with most of the front end components removed to provide better visibility of the impact absorbing body  14  and the rigid link  20 . The impact absorbing body  14  is attached to the sub-frame  16  by a fastener or by welding. The impact absorbing body  14  is secured below the bumper  30  to an outboard side  32  of the sub-frame  16 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , the impact absorbing body  14  is an annular ring  34 . The annular ring  34  may be formed as a tube that is bent to form the annular ring  34  or may be assembled from two parts in a clamshell-like manner. The rigid link  20  is secured to the annular ring  34  at an outboard location  36 . A fastener receiving opening  38  is provided on the annular ring  34  to facilitate fastening the annular ring  34  to the sub-frame  16 . Alternatively, the rigid link may be welded to the annular ring  34 . 
         [0031]    In a collision, the annular ring  34 , which is a closed ring, is driven and compressed in the rearward direction. The rearward displacement of the annular ring  34  forces a lower end of the rigid link  20  rearward and also causes the upper end of the rigid link  20  to be driven into the sliding plate  28  and, in turn, into the frame rail  26 . The rigid link  20  exerts a laterally directed force on the frame rail  26  and causes the vehicle  12  to be displaced laterally in a small offset collision. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , an impact absorbing body  40  is shown that includes a rigid link  42  attached at an outboard location  44  on the rectilinear impact absorbing body  40 . The rigid link  42  is connected to a slip plate  46 . The slip plate  46  is disposed between the upper end of the rigid link  42  and the frame rail  26  (as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ). 
         [0033]    Another alternative embodiment is shown in  FIG. 6 . An octagonal impact absorbing body  50  is shown in  FIG. 6  that includes a rigid link  52  attached at an outboard location  54  to the octagonal impact absorbing body  50 . An attachment plate  56  is provided between the upper end of the rigid link  52  and the frame rail (as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ). 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a prior art hook-shaped countermeasure apparatus  60  is shown that includes a front wall  62  that extends outwardly and rearward from a front end of the frame rail  26 . A rear wall  64  extends rearward and inwardly toward the frame rail  26 . This type of collision countermeasure apparatus was used in the simulated test described below with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9  comparing the design of the impact absorbing body  14  disclosed in  FIGS. 1-4 , to the prior art collision countermeasure apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 , and to a base design that did not include a collision countermeasure apparatus outboard of the frame rails. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a chart showing the global lateral displacement in millimeters over time in milliseconds is shown for a base vehicle that does not include any collision countermeasures outboard of the frame rails, to a simulated test of the prior art embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , and the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the lateral displacement of the base design in 90 m/sec is approximately 70 mm; the global lateral displacement for the prior art embodiment of  FIG. 7  is 100 mm at 90 msec; while the global lateral displacement of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4  at 90 msec is approximately 190 mm. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , again the base model is compared in a simulated test to the prior art embodiment of  FIG. 7  and also to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 . At 90 msec the base vehicle at a global lateral velocity of 2 m/sec. The embodiment of  FIG. 7  had a global lateral velocity of approximately 2.4 m/sec. The embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  had a global lateral velocity of slightly less than 4.5 m/sec. The simulated test of the charts of  FIGS. 8 and 9  indicate that the disclosed embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  approximately doubles the global lateral displacement and the global lateral velocity of a vehicle in a small offset collision compared to the static hook collision countermeasure apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0037]    The embodiments described above are specific examples that do not describe all possible forms of the disclosure. The features of the illustrated embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosed concepts. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation. The scope of the following claims is broader than the specifically disclosed embodiments and also includes modifications of the illustrated embodiments.