Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130270029 | SUBFRAME INTRUSION CONTROL BY STEERING GEAR CATCHER - A vehicle frame structure is adapted to absorb energy from frontal impacts. The frame structure extends under a front portion of the body frame. The frame structure includes a rear sub-frame located below and in front of a pair of side frame under-members, and a catching surface connected to the pair of side frame under-members for engaging the rear sub-frame and attached structures to improve energy absorption response during a frontal impact. A steering gear is attached to the rear sub-frame. The catching surface interacts with the steering gear to promote additional crushing energy absorption during sliding movement of the rear sub-frame relative to the catching surface during the frontal impact. The catching surface can be formed on ramps attached to the pair of side frame under-members. A tether can prolong crushing contact of the rear sub-frame with respect to the catching surface. | 10-17-2013 |
20130270808 | CONSTRUCTION METHOD TO CONTROL FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT DEFORMATION - A frame structure absorbs energy from frontal impacts and extends under a front portion of the body frame. The frame structure includes a rear sub-frame located below and in front of a pair of side frame under-members, and an inverter protection brace extending between the front sub-frame and the rear sub-frame. Loading from the inverter protection brace travels through the rear sub-frame to A-point bolt connections located on the pair of front frame side members. The rear sub-frame moves rearward and deforms at the A-point bolt connections. The load through the A-point bolt connections changes the deformation mode of the frame front side members between the A-point bolt connections and B-point bolt connections. At least one of the pair of side frame under-members buckles rearward of the B-point bolt connection located on the pair of side frame under-members for energy absorption during the frontal impact. | 10-17-2013 |
20130270860 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR FRONTAL IMPACT - A vehicle frame includes an inverter protection brace extending between front and rear sub-frames located below and in front of side frame members. A gusset of the brace strongly connects to the front sub-frame to load a beam section without overloading the bolts, and a bolted connection attaches to the rear sub-frame. The brace deforms forward of the bolted connection creating a safety cage around an inverter during frontal impacts. A reinforcement bracket attaches to the side frame members to define a pocket for temporarily catching the rear sub-frame. Ramps connect to the reinforcement bracket allowing sliding of the rear sub-frame rearward, and direct movement downwardly beneath a battery assembly. A catching surface defined on a ramp engages at least one rear sub-frame attached structure. A tether connects between the pair of side frame under-members and the rear sub-frame for improving the interaction of the rear sub-frame against the ramps. | 10-17-2013 |
20130270861 | SUB-FRAME INTRUSION CONTROL BY RAMPING DURING FRONTAL IMPACT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY PROTECTION - A frame structure is adapted to absorb energy from frontal impacts and extends under a front portion of the body frame. The frame structure includes a rear sub-frame located below and in front of a pair of side frame under-members, and at least one ramp connected to the pair of side frame under-members for directing rearward sliding movement of the rear sub-frame and attached structures downwardly beneath a battery assembly. A catching surface engages a steering gear to improve energy absorption during frontal impacts. A reinforcement bracket attached to the pair of side frame under-members defines a pocket for temporarily catching the rear sub-frame providing an energy absorption path before releasing the rear sub-frame to slide past. A tether is connected between the pair of side frame under-members and the rear sub-frame for holding the rear sub-frame against the ramp to increase energy absorption. | 10-17-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100242231 | BREAK-AWAY BUNDLING DEVICE - A bundling device includes a molding of a polymeric material. A flexible strap includes multiple teeth each including a notch. The strap is frangible at the notch of any one of the teeth. A strap engagement portion connected to the strap includes first and second flexible wings defining a strap receiving aperture therebetween receiving the flexible strap in a first direction. The flexible wings engage successive ones of the teeth to oppose removal of the strap in an opposite second direction. The first and second flexible wings each include a first arm having a first raised portion extending into the strap receiving portion; and a second arm having a second raised portion axially displaced with respect to the first raised portion and oriented out of plane with respect to the first raised portion. | 09-30-2010 |
20130146720 | Two Shot Tube Retention Fastener with Anti Material Peeling Feature - A tube retention fastener includes a polymeric material body having first and second walls and a semi-circular sleeve defining a longitudinal cavity. First and second deflecting wings individually connected to one of the first or second walls are directed toward a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal cavity in a non-deflected condition. An elastically resilient material isolation member includes a first portion fixed to the semi-circular sleeve, and first and second contact ends fixed to the first and second deflecting wings. Isolation member free extending portions are positioned and freely extend between the first portion and the contact ends. First and second wing receiving cavities are created between the deflecting wings and the first and second walls in the non-deflected condition. The deflecting wings, the contact ends and the free extending portions elastically deflect into one of the wing receiving cavities when a tube is positioned between the deflecting wings. | 06-13-2013 |
20130240684 | Two Shot Tube Retention Clip with Resilient Living Hinge - A retention clip includes first and second body portions created of a first polymeric material. The body portions when angularly rotated apart define an open position, and when rotated into direct contact defining an engaged position. An isolation portion is created of a resilient second polymeric material. The isolation portion includes isolation members connected to the body portions. The isolation members are positioned facing each other when the retention clip is in the engaged position. The isolation members frictionally contact and retain a tubular shaped member in the engaged position. A living hinge integrally connects the body portions allowing the body portions to rotate with respect to each other. The living hinge provides the only connection between the body portions as the body portions transition between the open position and the engaged position. A frangible connector initially integrally connects the first and second body portions only in the open position. | 09-19-2013 |
20130272778 | FASCIA BRACKET MOUNTING SYSTEM - CAPTIVE FLOATING NUT SYSTEM TO WELD STUD - A system for coupling a trim component to a body component having a bearing surface. The system has a threaded weld fastener coupled to the body. The trim piece has an exterior bearing surface and an interior bearing surface. Defined within the trim piece is an aperture having a lead-in portion. A rotatable fastener having a nut body with a cylindrical body portion is floatably positioned within the aperture. The body defines a fastener holding aperture and defines a side slot. | 10-17-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090037050 | WHEEL LIFTED AND GROUNDED IDENTIFICATION FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE - A control system ( | 02-05-2009 |
20090112435 | Vehicle Stability Control System and Method - A method and system for controlling vehicle stability may comprise determining whether a vehicle is oversteering or understeering and, if the vehicle is oversteering or understeering, determining an amount by which to reduce a speed of the vehicle to correct for understeering or oversteering and applying brake pressure to at least the rear brakes of the vehicle to reduce vehicle speed. The method and system also may comprise determining an engine torque reduction amount based on vehicle oversteer or understeer conditions, reducing engine torque by the determined amount or to zero if the determined amount of engine torque reduction is greater than an actual engine torque, and applying braking to at least the rear brakes of the vehicle if the determined amount of engine torque reduction is greater than the actual engine torque. | 04-30-2009 |
20090187324 | Vehicle Stability Control System and Method - A vehicle stability control system comprises a 5-sensor cluster and a stability controller configured to communicate with the 5-sensor cluster and receive signals corresponding to a lateral acceleration, a longitudinal acceleration, a yaw rate, a roll rate, and a pitch rate from the 5-sensor cluster. The stability controller can also be configured to determine a braking amount or a throttle amount to maintain vehicle stability. The system also comprises a brake controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a braking request from the stability controller, and a throttle controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a throttle request from the stability controller. The system may also comprise a braking or throttling command computed based on various scenarios detected by measured and calculated signals. | 07-23-2009 |
20090254244 | System and Method for Detecting a Pitch Rate Sensor Fault - A system and method for detecting a fault in a pitch rate sensor onboard a vehicle. Signals, including a steering wheel angle, a yaw rate, a roll rate, a longitudinal acceleration, a lateral acceleration, and a vehicle speed, are processed in a controller to validate a pitch rate signal. Upon detection of a fault in the pitch rate signal, the system and method will determine a process in which to minimize negative effects of the pitch sensor fault. The system and method will then direct the controller to select a process, such as a direct shutdown, a slow shutdown or replace a signal, in a relevant control system, based on the determination. | 10-08-2009 |
20100145574 | Active Driven Wheel Lift Identification for an Automotive Vehicle - A roll control system ( | 06-10-2010 |
20110166744 | Enhanced Yaw Stability Control to Mitigate a Vehicle's Abnormal Yaw Motion Due to a Disturbance Force Applied to Vehicle Body - An enchanced stability control system ( | 07-07-2011 |
20120185142 | VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and system for controlling vehicle stability may comprise determining whether a vehicle is oversteering or understeering and, if the vehicle is oversteering or understeering, determining an amount by which to reduce a speed of the vehicle to correct for understeering or oversteering and applying brake pressure to at least the rear brakes of the vehicle to reduce vehicle speed. The method and system also may comprise determining an engine torque reduction amount based on vehicle oversteer or understeer conditions, reducing engine torque by the determined amount or to zero if the determined amount of engine torque reduction is greater than an actual engine torque, and applying braking to at least the rear brakes of the vehicle if the determined amount of engine torque reduction is greater than the actual engine torque. | 07-19-2012 |
20120209490 | VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A vehicle stability control system comprises a 5-sensor cluster and a stability controller configured to communicate with the 5-sensor cluster and receive signals corresponding to a lateral acceleration, a longitudinal acceleration, a yaw rate, a roll rate, and a pitch rate from the 5-sensor cluster. The stability controller can also be configured to determine a braking amount or a throttle amount to maintain vehicle stability. The system also comprises a brake controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a braking request from the stability controller, and a throttle controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a throttle request from the stability controller. The system may also comprise a braking or throttling command computed based on various scenarios detected by measured and calculated signals. | 08-16-2012 |
20140012477 | VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A vehicle stability control system comprises a 5-sensor cluster and a stability controller configured to communicate with the 5-sensor cluster and receive signals corresponding to a lateral acceleration, a longitudinal acceleration, a yaw rate, a roll rate, and a pitch rate from the 5-sensor cluster. The stability controller can also be configured to determine a braking amount or a throttle amount to maintain vehicle stability. The system also comprises a brake controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a braking request from the stability controller, and a throttle controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a throttle request from the stability controller. The system may also comprise a braking or throttling command computed based on various scenarios detected by measured and calculated signals. | 01-09-2014 |