IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,126,550
Granted Patent B2
US 9,126,550 · App. 13/944,665 · Granted Sep 8, 2015

Sliding deflector assembly

Inventors: Saied Nusier (Canton, MI); Ridha Baccouche (Ann Arbor, MI); Rahul Arora (Royal Oak, MI); Saeed David Barbat (Novi, MI); Jamel E. Belwafa (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60R19/16B60R19/14B62D21/152B62D25/082B60R2021/0023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,126,550
App. No.
13/944,665
Granted
Sep 8, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle frame assembly is provided comprising a main rail. The vehicle frame assembly also includes a deflector assembly which has a front member having an inboard end pivotally coupled to the main rail and an outboard end. Moreover, the deflector assembly includes a rear member having an inboard end slidably coupled to the main rail and an outboard end pivotally coupled to the outboard end of the front member. Additionally, a tension member is disposed between the inboard ends of the front member and the rear member. The deflector assembly is operable between a normal use position wherein the tension member is slack and a collision position wherein the tension member is taut.

Claims (35)

1. A vehicle frame assembly comprising:

a main rail;

a deflector assembly including:

a front member having an inboard end pivotally coupled to the main rail and an outboard end;

a rear member having an inboard end slidably coupled to the main rail and an outboard end pivotally coupled to the outboard end of the front member; and

a tension member disposed between the inboard ends of the front member and the rear member, wherein the deflector assembly is operable between a normal use position wherein the tension member is slack and a collision position wherein the tension member is taut.

2. The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main rail includes a slider portion.

3. The vehicle frame assembly of claim 2 , wherein when the deflector assembly is moved from the normal use position to the collision position the slider portion is moved rearward on the main rail.

4. The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein the deflector assembly is configured to move from the normal use position to the collision position by a frontal collision event.

5. The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the deflector assembly is in the collision position, the deflector assembly is configured to impose a tension force on the tension member.

6. The vehicle frame assembly of claim 4 , wherein the deflector assembly is configured to deflect the vehicle frame laterally during the frontal collision event.

7. The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front member and the rear member are pivotally connected by a cylindrical joint.

8. The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front member is pivotally coupled to the main rail using a cylindrical joint.

9. A vehicle frame assembly comprising:

a main rail;

a deflector assembly including:

a front member having an inboard end pivotally coupled to the main rail and an outboard end;

a rear member having an inboard end slidably coupled to the main rail and an outboard end pivotally coupled to the outboard end of the front member; and

a tension member disposed between the inboard ends of the front member and the rear member.

10. The vehicle frame assembly of claim 9 , wherein the main rail includes a slider portion.

11. The vehicle frame assembly of claim 9 , wherein the deflector assembly is operable between a normal use position corresponding with the tension member being slack and a collision position corresponding with the tension member being taut.

12. The vehicle frame assembly of claim 9 , wherein when the deflector assembly is in the collision position, the deflector assembly is configured to transfer force to the vehicle frame.

13. The vehicle frame assembly of claim 9 , wherein the deflector assembly is moved from the normal use position to the collision position by a frontal collision event.

14. The vehicle frame assembly of claim 9 , wherein the front member and the rear member are pivotally connected by a cylindrical joint.

15. A vehicle energy absorption assembly comprising:

a main rail;

a deflector assembly including:

a front member having an inboard end coupled to the main rail and an outboard end;

a rear member having an inboard end slidably coupled to the main rail and an outboard end coupled to the outboard end of the front member; and

a load receiving member disposed between the inboard ends of the front member and the rear member.

16. The vehicle energy absorption assembly of claim 15 , wherein the deflector assembly is configured to be in a normal use position or a collision position.

17. The vehicle energy absorption assembly of claim 15 , wherein the front member and the rear member are operably coupled using a cylindrical joint.

18. The vehicle energy absorption assembly of claim 16 , wherein when the deflector is in the collision position, the deflector assembly is configured to transfer force to the main rail.

19. The vehicle energy absorption assembly of claim 17 , wherein the load receiving member is disposed generally parallel to the main rail.

20. The vehicle energy absorption assembly of claim 15 , wherein the front member is pivotally coupled to the main rail by a cylindrical joint.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2013
From: NUSIER, SAIED; BACCOUCHE, RIDHA; ARORA, RAHUL; BARBAT, SAEED DAVID; BELWAFA, JAMEL E.
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 030819/0473 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150021936A1 · Jan 22, 2015