Vehicle with energy absorption device

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (1) having an energy absorption device (8). The device comprises a bracket (9) and a component (10) arranged on the lower side of the vehicle. The bracket (9) is arranged to transfer energy to the member (10) in the event of a collision.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle having an energy absorbing device. Background Art

[0002] Modern vehicles must absorb energy in the event of a collision. For example, the vehicle is appropriately designed to reduce the load on the A-pillar and prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment of the vehicle in the event of a collision. Therefore, the door sill can be extended by the front to ensure that the initial main force will be transmitted to the door sill, which absorbs energy before the A-pillar is affected.

[0003] However, the amount of energy that can be absorbed by the door sill in this way is limited. For safety reasons, it is desirable to control the load distribution and absorb more energy without introducing additional components that make the structure more complex or heavier. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle by which more energy can be absorbed in the event of a collision.

[0005] This object is achieved by a vehicle having an energy absorbing device, wherein the device comprises a bracket and a component arranged on the underside of the vehicle, and wherein the bracket is arranged to transfer energy to the component in the event of a collision.

[0006] The invention is based on the recognition that, with such a vehicle, energy absorption can be achieved without the use of additional components. The support can be an already existing part of the vehicle. For example, the support can be a lifting support which provides a surface for a lifting device so that the vehicle can be lifted in a workshop.

[0007] Furthermore, the component arranged on the underside of the vehicle may be a standard component of the vehicle or an already existing component. For example, the component may be part of a battery structure, such as a battery housing or a side impact protection for a battery. Such a battery is used to provide power for the motor driving the vehicle and is usually arranged on the underside of the vehicle.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the vehicle comprises a rocker, and the bracket is attached to the rocker, and preferably, the bracket is arranged in front of the rocker. Thus, the bracket can be properly attached and provide a favorable lifting position, while energy can be transferred to the component in the event of a collision.

[0009] According to another embodiment, the bracket is arranged on the lower side of the rocker. Thus, the bracket is positioned at a height suitable for transferring energy to the battery structure arranged on the lower side of the vehicle.

[0010] According to another embodiment, the bracket is arranged so that the front part of the bracket is arranged in front of the door sill. Thus, in the event of a collision, energy can be transferred to the component via the bracket before the door sill is hit, and the overall energy absorption capacity can be improved.

[0011] According to another embodiment, the vehicle has an A-pillar, and the bracket is arranged so that the front part of the bracket is arranged in front of the A-pillar. Thereby, energy can be transferred to the rear part of the bracket and absorbed by the component, while reducing the load on the A-pillar.

[0012] According to another embodiment, the bracket is arranged at a position below the A-pillar. Thus, the bracket has an advantageous position connected to the front part of the door sill, where the bracket can extend from the door sill to a position in front of the A-pillar.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the component is arranged behind the bracket. Thus, when a collision load having a directional component in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle causes the bracket to be displaced rearwardly, energy can be transferred to the component.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the support and the member are arranged adjacent to each other. Thus, when the support is struck, energy can be transferred almost immediately.

[0015] According to another embodiment, the component is a battery housing or a side impact protection for a battery, and preferably the bracket is arranged to transfer the energy to a transverse outer portion of the component, which extends longitudinally along a portion of the vehicle side. Thus, suitable standard components or already existing components can be used to absorb the energy in a safe manner.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the device has a guide device which maintains the mutual position of the support and the component in the event of a collision.Thereby, the amount of energy transmitted to the component can be increased.

[0017] According to another embodiment, the guide means is arranged to prevent the bracket from moving to a position below the member in the event of a collision, and preferably, the guide means has a hook attached to the bracket, wherein the hook is arranged adjacent to the upward surface of the member, thereby mechanically connecting the bracket and the member to each other in the event of an impact. As a result, in the event of a rearward displacement of the bracket, the relative position of the bracket and the member in the vertical direction can be maintained. At the same time, the member, such as the battery structure, can still be disassembled without any additional measures.

[0018] Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Embodiments of the invention cited as examples will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] In the attached picture:

[0021] Figure 1A is a schematic side view of a vehicle,

[0022] Figure 1B yes Figure 1A The enlarged part,

[0023] Figure 2A is a schematic diagram showing the vehicle from below,

[0024] Figure 2B yes Figure 2A The enlarged portion of

[0025] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional diagram of a support of a vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figure 1A is a schematic side view showing a part of the vehicle 1, and Figure 1B yes Figure 1A Magnified portion of the middle view.

[0027] exist Figure 1A In order to facilitate the explanation of the vehicle, a Cartesian coordinate system X, Y, Z is also introduced, in which all axes are orthogonal to each other. The directions and axes used in the Cartesian coordinate system, namely the X axis, the Y axis and the Z axis, are arranged relative to the vehicle so that the X axis is a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal extension direction or the normal driving direction of the vehicle, the Y axis is a horizontal axis parallel to the lateral extension of the vehicle, and the Z axis is a vertical axis.

[0028] The vehicle 1 has a front wheel 2, an A-pillar 3, a passenger compartment 4 and a rocker 5. The rocker 5 may be made in two pieces: a front part 6 of a first material and a rear part 7 of a second material. The front part 6 may be a so-called "gap eater" constituting an extension of the rocker 5 for absorbing the loads which would otherwise be immediately transmitted to the A-pillar 3 in the event of a frontal collision (without the front part). The front part 6 is suitably made of a softer material than the rear part 7. Both the front part 6 and the rear part 7 of the rocker 5 may be made of steel, aluminium or a composite material such as carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP).

[0029] The vehicle 1 has an energy absorbing device 8, which includes a bracket 9 and a member 10 arranged on the lower side of the vehicle 1. The bracket 9 is arranged to transfer energy to the member 10 in the event of a collision. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the member 10 absorbing energy from the bracket 9 is part of a battery structure arranged on the lower side of the vehicle, which member 10 can be attached to the rocker 5.

[0030] like Figure 1A As shown, the bracket 9 is attached to the door sill 5 and is appropriately arranged in front of the door sill 5 and on the lower side of the door sill 5. The bracket 9 can be made of a relatively soft material, for example made of aluminum. The bracket 9 can be attached to the door sill 5 by a bolt joint 11. Preferably, the member 10 is arranged behind the bracket 9 in the longitudinal extension direction of the vehicle. The bracket 9 and the member 10 are arranged adjacent to each other, that is, with a small gap relative to each other or arranged against each other (in the X direction). In the case where the bracket is loaded and displaced backwards, any gap is eliminated and the bracket will abut the member.

[0031] The bracket 9 is appropriately arranged such that the front portion 12 of the bracket 9 is arranged in front of the door sill 5 and such that the front portion 12 of the bracket 9 is arranged in front of the A-pillar 3. The bracket 9 is preferably arranged at a position below the A-pillar 3 in the vertical direction.

[0032] By means of the bracket 9 , the front wheels or chassis can be prevented from intruding into the passenger compartment 4 , since the loads from a collision can be transferred to the battery structure 10 and the rocker 5 , thereby increasing the load-bearing capacity of the entire structure in this area and reducing the forces acting on the A-pillar 3 .

[0033] For example, the member 10 may be a battery housing or a side impact protection for a battery, or a combination thereof. The bracket 9 may advantageously be arranged to transfer energy to a transverse outer portion 13 of the member 10 extending longitudinally along a portion of a vehicle side 14 .

[0034] See also Figure 2A and Figure 2B , which shows a vehicle 1 including an energy absorption device 8 from below.

[0035] As a result, the battery housing or the side impact protection element can be used to absorb the energy, while any battery cells arranged in the battery housing in the center of the vehicle can remain unaffected.

[0036] Figure 3The bracket 9 is shown in a perspective view. The front part 12 of the bracket 9 can extend in the vertical direction in front of the door sill 5. The width 15 (along the Y axis), the height 16 (along the Z axis) and the position of the front part 12 can be adapted to the size and position of the door sill 5. The front part 12 can be arranged to cover the front surface 17 of the door sill 5. The front part 12 of the bracket 9 can also cover the lower part of the A-pillar. See also Figure 1A .

[0037] In addition to transmitting the forces to the rest of the bracket 9 and further to the member 10, the front portion 12 will help to evenly distribute the forces over the cross-sectional surface of the door sill 5. Figure 3 The bracket 9 is shown as being made of a (vertical) front part 12 and a (horizontal) rear part 12b which are welded together, but in another embodiment the bracket may be made in one piece, for example by moulding.

[0038] like Figure 3 The support 9 shown is a lifting support which provides a surface 18 for a lifting device so that the vehicle 1 can be lifted in a workshop. The lifting surface 18 is suitably facing downwards.

[0039] At the rear end 19 of the support 9, the support 9 has a rear surface 20 facing rearwards in the X direction. Figure 2B As shown, at its front end 21, the member 10 has a front surface 22 facing forward. The rear surface 20 of the bracket 9 and the front surface 22 of the member 10 are arranged to abut each other for transferring energy from the bracket 9 to the member 10 in the event of a collision.

[0040] In addition, if Figure 1B and Figure 3 As shown, the device 8 has a guide device 23, which maintains the mutual position of the bracket 9 and the member 10 in the event of a collision. The guide device 23 is arranged to prevent the bracket 9 from moving to a position below the member 10 in the event of a collision. The guide device 23 has a hook 24, which is attached to the bracket 9 at the rear end 19 of the bracket 9 and preferably attached to the bracket 9 at the upper edge of the rear surface 20 of the bracket 9.

[0041] The hook 24 is arranged in the vicinity of the component, i.e. arranged with a small clearance relative to or in abutment with (in the Z direction) an upwardly facing surface 25 of the component, whereby the bracket 9 and the component 10 are mechanically connected to each other, thereby preventing or at least hindering a downward movement of the rear end 19 of the bracket 9 relative to the component 10 in a vertical direction. In other words, the guide device 23 is arranged to keep the rear surface 20 of the bracket 9 and the front surface 22 of the component 10 in contact with each other when energy is transferred. This form-fit connection between the bracket and the component is also advantageous because it still allows the component to be removed from the vehicle without any additional measures.

[0042] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary, those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle (1) having an energy absorbing device (8), characterized in that: The device comprises a support (9) and a component (10) arranged on the lower side of the vehicle, wherein the support (9) is arranged to be able to transfer energy to the component (10) in the event of a collision.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that The vehicle (1) comprises a rocker (5), and the bracket (9) is attached to the rocker.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that The bracket (9) is arranged in front of the door sill (5).

4. The vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The bracket (9) is arranged on the lower side of the door sill (5).

5. The vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The bracket (9) is arranged such that a front portion (12) of the bracket (9) is arranged in front of the door sill (5).

6. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The vehicle (1) has an A-pillar (3), and the bracket (9) is arranged such that a front portion (12) of the bracket (9) is arranged in front of the A-pillar (3).

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that The bracket (9) is arranged at a position below the A-pillar (3).

8. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The support (9) is a lifting support which provides a surface (18) for a lifting device so that the vehicle (1) can be lifted in a workshop.

9. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The component (10) is arranged behind the bracket (9).

10. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The support (9) and the member (10) are arranged adjacent to each other.

11. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The component (10) is a part of the battery structure.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that The component (10) is a battery housing or a side impact protection element for a battery.

13. The vehicle according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that The bracket (9) is arranged to transfer energy to a transverse outer portion (13) of the member (10), the outer portion (13) extending longitudinally along a portion of a side (14) of the vehicle (1).

14. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The device (8) has a guide device (23) which maintains the mutual position of the support (9) and the component (10) in the event of a collision.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, characterized in that The guide means (23) are arranged to prevent the support (9) from moving to a position below the member (10) in the event of a collision.

16. The vehicle according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The guide means (23) has a hook portion (24) attached to the bracket (9), the hook portion (24) being arranged adjacent to an upwardly facing surface (25) of the component (10), thereby mechanically interconnecting the bracket (9) and the component (10) in the event of an impact.

Images