Abstract:
A system for providing structural transmittal of force through a vehicle body of a mid-engine vehicle is provided. The system includes an elongated single member torsional box spanning a passenger compartment from a vehicle-forward portion of the passenger compartment to a vehicle-rearward portion of the passenger compartment, parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, and laterally centered upon a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body. The system further includes four rails in a vehicle-forward position relative to the elongated single member torsional box, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, and offset from the elongated single member torsional box. The system further includes four diagonal support members, each diagonal support member being connected at a first end to one of the four rails and at a second end to the elongated single member torsional box.
Abstract:
A vehicle body structure includes a system of connected unitized body structure components, with at least one of the system of connected unitized body structure components including a hollow portion.
Abstract:
A body structure includes a generally trough-shaped first structural member having a floor, two opposed side walls having respective top edges, and an open top along a length of the first structural member defining a generally U-shaped cross-section. The first structural member has a first portion with a first flow direction therethrough and a second portion with a second flow direction therethrough different from the first flow direction, the first portion having opposed first and second ends with a first opening in the first end, the second portion having opposed third and fourth ends with a second opening in the fourth end, wherein the second and third ends are in fluid communication with each other. The first portion has a first average depth and the second portion has a deepened portion having a second average depth larger than the first average depth.
Abstract:
A system for providing multiple variations of shock tower assemblies with a common vehicle body is provided. The system includes the common vehicle body including a vehicle body member comprising a plurality of bolt holes and a shock tower assembly. The shock tower assembly includes a bolt-on shock tower cap comprising a shock receiving cavity, a plurality of bolt fasteners attaching the bolt-on shock tower cap to the vehicle body member at the plurality of bolt holes, and shock tower components including a shock device. The shock tower components are configured to matingly engage with the shock receiving cavity.
Abstract:
A bulkhead for a vehicle body structure includes a panel. The panel has a contour defined by a contour length and characterized by an open section having three surfaces in a cross-sectional view. The bulkhead also includes a support member embedded in the panel. The support member includes an external form configured to interface with and match at least two of the three surfaces of the contour. The support member also includes a support member length configured to fit within the contour length and a boxed cross-section having a substantially uniform shape along the support member length. The bulkhead additionally includes an adhesive applied between the external form of the support member and the interfacing surfaces of the contour to thereby bond the support member to the panel and reinforce the bulkhead. A vehicle having a structure with such a bulkhead is also considered.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a bus bar comprising a bar manufactured from a material that has a density of less than or equal to 2.70 grams per cubic centimeter; where the bar comprises a plurality of holes for facilitating contact between the bus bar and a grounding attachment. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising affixing one or more grounding attachments to a bus bar, where the bus bar comprises a bar manufactured from a material that has a density of less than or equal to 2.70 grams per cubic centimeter; where the bar comprises a plurality of holes for facilitating contact between the bus bar and a grounding attachment; and affixing the bus bar to the frame of an automobile.
Abstract:
Presented are anti-buckling cables for battery assembly shear plates, methods for making/using such anti-buckling cables, and electric-drive vehicles equipped with traction battery packs having impact-attenuating shear plates joined by anti-buckling cables. A battery assembly includes multiple battery cells, such as lithium-class prismatic, pouch, or can-type cells arranged in rows and columns, that are housed inside a protective battery container, such as an electrically insulated battery pack housing. A pair of rigid, impact-attenuating (top and bottom) shear plates is attached to opposing (top and bottom) sides of the battery container, sandwiching therebetween the battery cells. An engineered pattern of tether cables extends through the battery container with cable each rigidly secured at opposing ends thereof to the two shear plates. The tether cables are electrically non-conductive and structurally join together the vertically spaced, mutually parallel shear plates. Each of the tether cables may be continuously tensioned between the shear plates.
Abstract:
A side impact load management system for a vehicle having a vehicle frame includes a plurality of cross-vehicle support members extending from a first side of the vehicle to a second side of the vehicle. A first structural member extends in a first vertical plane parallel to a vehicle body axis defined by the vehicle frame and coupled to the vehicle frame, the first structural member connecting the plurality of cross-vehicle support members on the first side of the vehicle. A second structural member extends in a second vertical plane parallel to the vehicle body axis defined by the vehicle frame and coupled to the vehicle frame, the second structural member connecting the plurality of cross-vehicle support members on the second side of the vehicle. The first and second structural members are configured to transfer a side impact load simultaneously to the plurality of cross-vehicle support members.