Front upper members and front side members located laterally inward of the front upper members are joined with connecting members of pipe form. A first end portion of each connecting member extends through the front side member and is welded to both sides of the side member. The joint has high rigidity. When impact energy acts on either front upper member, the energy is transmitted to the front side member via the connecting member, and the front side member and the front upper member plastically deform.

Vehicle front body structure

A pair of right-and-left center pillars, a pair of right-and-left roof side rails, and an inflator provided on the inside, in a vehicle width direction, of the roof side rails and capable of supplying a gas pressure to an airbag are provided. A roof reinforcing member which extends in the vehicle width direction over respective upper end portions of the center pillars or respective nearby portions to upper ends of the center pillars is provided, which includes a front concave portion and a rear concave portion which are concaved downward respectively. The inflator is arranged such that at least a portion of the inflator overlaps with the roof reinforcing member, and a depth of the rear concave portion overlapping with the inflator is shallower than that of the front concave portion positioned nearer the center pillars.

Upper vehicle-body structure of vehicle

A tubular front end structure for use with a unitized automotive frame. The tubular front end structure includes a pair of upper frame rail members that are welded to the A-pillar at vertically spaced positions. A first upper rail member provides support for the fender and bends downwardly and forwardly to support tubular upper and lower radiator supports. The other upper rail member connects to the other upper rail member and bends downwardly to connect with the lower frame rail at an intermediate position to provide support for the shock tower. The lower frame rail is formed with an “S-bend” to correspond to the shape of the unitized automotive frame and includes a bracket attached thereto at the S-bend to increase the section properties of the lower frame rail as required to maintain the section properties of the replaced frame structure.

Front end tubular structure for unitized body vehicles

A one-piece shotgun is configured to absorb impact energy when a front of the vehicle is impacted. The shotgun comprises an upper portion, a mid portion, and a lower portion, the upper portion having an end configured to connect to a hinge pillar; and a Z-trigger formed by two indentations and being located adjacent the upper portion end. The indentations of the Z-trigger are located on an outer side and an inner side of the shotgun to cause substantially lateral bending when sufficient force is applied to the shotgun.

One-piece shotgun with impact energy absorber

Vehicle structures for dissipating energy associated with a collision are described herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a first side support extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a second side support extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and spaced apart from the first side support in a vehicle lateral direction that is transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a cross-vehicle stabilizing structure extending between the first side support and the second side support, the cross-vehicle stabilizing structure including a first joint portion coupled to the first side support, the first joint portion including a stiffness-reducing portion positioned within a perimeter of the first joint portion, a second joint portion coupled to the second side support, and a cross-vehicle stabilizer portion coupled to the first joint portion and the second joint portion.

Vehicles having a cross-vehicle stabilizing structure

One embodiment of the present invention is an improved front-end to body-side joint (10) for an automotive vehicle. This joint (10) includes an integral front end structure (12) having a fender attachment portion (16) and one or more hinge-reinforcement portions (14). The fender attachment portion (16) is coupled to a fender (24). Moreover, the hinge-reinforcement portions (14) are attached to a pillar member (28) of a vehicle body (46) for supporting a door (20). The integral front end structure (12) is a master-locating component for positioning the fender (24) and the door (20) in a predetermined configuration within the joint (10).

Front-end to body-side joint for an automotive vehicle

A front end assembly for a vehicle includes a U-shaped tubular structure, a body portion having a pair of laterally-spaced, longitudinally extending cowl sides, and, a pair of laterally-spaced A-pillar structures. The U-shaped tubular structure is secured to each A-pillar and each cowl side at longitudinally-spaced apart locations. The laterally-spaced connection points provide improved rigidity and reduce distortion.

Tubular front end structure for automobiles and method for making the same

One embodiment of the present invention is a seal apparatus ( 16 ) for an improved front-end to body-side joint ( 10 ) of a vehicle. The seal apparatus ( 16 ) includes a ring portion ( 36 ), a gate portion ( 38 ), and an intermediate portion ( 40 ) extending between the ring portion ( 36 ) and the gate portion ( 38 ). The ring portion ( 36 ) is utilized for receiving an open-ended tubular front-end structure ( 12 ) of the improved front-end to body-side joint ( 10 ). Additionally, the ring portion ( 36 ) is utilized for sealing an interface between the front-end structure ( 12 ) and a body-side structure ( 14 ). Further, the gate portion ( 38 ) is sized for insertion into an interior cavity ( 42 ) of the front-end structure ( 12 ) and for blocking communication through the interior. Also, the ring portion ( 36 ) and/or the intermediate portion ( 40 ) have a self-locating construction for positioning the seal apparatus ( 16 ) in a predetermined location ( 50 ) on the front-end structure ( 12 ).

Seal apparatus for an improved front-end to body-side joint of a vehicle

An improved method of manufacturing an assembly comprising at least two components Assembly components are attached together to form a combined assembly The combined assembly is engaged by a single framing fixture that establishes the spatial relationships between each of the assembly components After the spatial relationships are final, the assembly is fixed having securing points that are accessible when engaged by the single framing fixture The method significantly reduces the load-weld-load sequences used in conventional body-in-white framing processes for motor vehicles

Single set geometry method for assembly of a vehicle

One embodiment of the present invention is an improved front-end to body-side joint ( 10 ) for an automotive vehicle. This joint ( 10 ) includes an integral front end structure ( 12 ) having a fender attachment portion ( 16 ) and one or more hinge-reinforcement portions ( 14 ). The fender attachment portion ( 16 ) is coupled to a fender ( 24 ). Moreover, the hinge-reinforcement portions ( 14 ) are attached to a pillar member ( 28 ) of a vehicle body ( 46 ) for supporting a door ( 20 ). The integral front end structure ( 12 ) is a master-locating component for positioning the fender ( 24 ) and the door ( 20 ) in a predetermined configuration within the joint ( 10 ).

Dragan Stojkovic

Papers

Front-end to body-side joint for an automotive vehicle

Tubular front end structure for automobiles and method for making the same

Seal apparatus for an improved front-end to body-side joint of a vehicle

Single set geometry method for assembly of a vehicle

Improved front-end to body-side joint for an automotive vehicle