Front frame assembly with suspension attachment structure for a motor vehicle
A front frame assembly for a motor vehicle includes a suspension attachment structure with an attachment portion fixable to a body cell of the motor vehicle, one or more attachment elements fixed relative to the suspension attachment structure to allow a suspension of the motor vehicle to be coupled to the attachment portion, and an absorption element to absorb a front crash of the motor vehicle, wherein the absorption element is distinct from the suspension attachment structure, is fixed relative to the suspension attachment structure, and extends along a first straight axis, wherein the suspension attachment structure further comprises a collapsible portion between the absorption element and the attachment portion along the first straight axis, the collapsible portion having a first compression stiffness equal to or greater than a second stiffness of the absorption element and smaller than a third stiffness of the attachment portion.
1 . A front frame assembly ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle ( 1 ), the front frame assembly ( 11 ) comprising
a suspension attachment structure ( 12 ) comprising an attachment portion ( 13 ) fixable to a body cell ( 2 ) defining a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle ( 1 ),
one or more attachment elements ( 15 ) fixed relative to the suspension attachment structure ( 12 ) and configured to allow a suspension ( 3 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ) to be coupled to the attachment portion ( 13 ), and
an absorption element ( 16 ) to absorb a front crash of the motor vehicle ( 1 ), the absorption element ( 16 ) being distinct from the suspension attachment structure ( 12 ), being fixed relative to the suspension attachment structure ( 12 ) and extending along a first straight axis (D),
characterized in that the suspension attachment structure ( 12 ) further comprises a collapsible portion ( 20 ) located between the absorption element ( 16 ) and the attachment portion ( 13 ) along the first straight axis (D), the collapsible portion ( 20 ) having a first compression stiffness that is equal to or greater than a second compression stiffness of the absorption element ( 16 ) and smaller than a third compression stiffness of the attachment portion ( 13 ).
2 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the collapsible portion ( 20 ) has an end ( 21 ) along a second axis (H) orthogonal to the first axis (D), the end ( 21 ) having a recess ( 22 ) extending in depth along the second axis (H) and configured to be crossed by a steering box ( 7 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ) along a third axis (C) orthogonal to both the first and the second axis (D, H).
3 . The assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the recess ( 22 ) is aligned with the first axis (D).
4 . The assembly according to claim 2 , further comprising an absorber body ( 24 ) and releasable fixing means ( 25 ) fixing the absorber body ( 24 ) to the collapsible portion ( 20 ) in a releasable manner.
5 . The assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the absorber body ( 24 ) is fixed to the collapsible portion ( 20 ) at the recess ( 22 ).
6 . The assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the absorber body ( 24 ) is fixed to the collapsible portion ( 20 ) so as to cover a mouth opening of the recess ( 22 ) in the direction of the second axis (H), the mouth opening extending crosswise to the second axis (H).
7 . The assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the absorber body ( 24 ) comprises or is defined by a plate.
8 . The assembly according to claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of absorber bodies, all distinct from one another, the plurality of absorber bodies including said absorber body ( 24 ), wherein the releasable fixing means ( 25 ) are configured to fix, in a releasable manner, each one of the absorber bodies to the collapsible portion ( 20 ) in a same position in which said absorber body ( 24 ) is fixed, after said absorber body ( 24 ) has been released and removed from said position.
9 . The assembly according to claim 2 , comprising one or more holes ( 23 ) extending along respective directions transversal to both the first and the second axis (D, H) as well as substantially aligned with the recess ( 22 ) along the second axis (H).
10 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the absorption element ( 16 ) comprises or is defined by a spar.
11 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the suspension attachment structure ( 12 ) is a single piece.
12 . A motor vehicle ( 1 ) comprising
a passenger compartment,
a body cell ( 2 ) defining the passenger compartment,
a suspension ( 3 ), and
a front frame assembly ( 11 ) according to claim 1 ,
wherein the attachment portion ( 13 ) of the front frame assembly ( 11 ) is fixed to the body cell ( 2 ), and wherein the suspension ( 3 ) is coupled to the attachment elements ( 15 ), the first axis (D) being parallel to the forward moving direction of the motor vehicle ( 1 ).
13 . The motor vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the collapsible portion ( 20 ) of the suspension attachment structure ( 12 ) of the front frame assembly ( 11 ) has an end ( 21 ) along a second axis (H) orthogonal to the first axis (D), the end ( 21 ) having a recess ( 22 ) extending in depth along the second axis (H) and configured to be crossed by a steering box ( 7 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ) along a third axis (C) orthogonal to both the first and the second axis (D, H), the motor vehicle ( 1 ) further comprising a steering box ( 7 ) arranged through the recess ( 22 ) along the third axis (C).
14 . The assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the plate has a thickness that is smaller than 20 mm.
15 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the suspension attachment structure ( 12 ) is manufactured by means of die casting.