MULTI-CELL MOTOR COMPARTMENT RAIL
In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a multi-cell motor compartment rail system is provided for a vehicle. The system comprises an inner rail member and an outer rail member. Partition members couple to the inner rail member and outer rail member and are configured to form multiple cells within the engine compartment rail system when the inner rail member and outer rail member are coupled together. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a method for forming a multi-cell motor compartment rail is also provided. The method comprises coupling a first partition member to an inner rail member of an engine compartment rail system and coupling a second partition member to an outer rail member of an engine compartment rail system. Next, the inner rail member and the outer rail member are coupled together to form the multi-cell motor compartment rail.
Latest General Motors Patents:
- AUDIO SIGNAL TRANSMISSION WITH DYNAMIC SOURCE AND TARGET POSITIONS IN A VEHICLE
- HARMONIC CURRENT COMMAND WITH FOUR DEGREES OF FREEDOM FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR
- DC-DC POWER CONVERTER PRE-CHARGE SYSTEM
- COLUMNAR SILICON ANODE HAVING A CARBONACEOUS NETWORK AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME
- ARTICULATING ROOF ASSEMBLIES FOR ELECTRICAL GENERATORS AND VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS
The technical field generally relates to motor compartment rails for vehicles, and more particularly to multi-cell motor compartment rails for vehicles.
BACKGROUNDThe motor compartment of a vehicle is often configured with an energy absorbing device, sometimes referred to as a crush box, located between a bumper and a longitudinally-extending motor compartment rail (commonly called a mid-rail). The crush box is configured to deform in the event of an impact force from a collision to minimize deformation and energy transfer rearward to the motor compartment rail. While functional, crush boxes are expensive, have a large number of parts (increasing vehicle mass) and require additional handling and installation.
In frontal crash events, the mid-rail plays an important role. However, conventional mid-rail designs have not been efficient for use without crush boxes because the mid-rail is often compromised to accommodate packing requirements of the powertrain and chassis components. Typically, the mid-rail cross-section is reduced, which limits load carrying capacity of the mid-rails. Accordingly, ultra-high strength steel is sometimes used to increase mid-rail capacity. Unfortunately, ultra-high strength steel does not provide a robust axial crush mechanism. That is, it is desirable to control the deformation of the mid-rail in an axial (fore-aft) direction so that the motor compartment rail may deform and absorb energy in a collision situation.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a motor compartment rail for a vehicle. Also, it is desirable to provide a motor compartment rail that can be used without the added complexity, mass and expense of a crush box. Additionally, other desirable features and characteristics of the present disclosure will become apparent from the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.
BRIEF SUMMARYIn accordance with exemplary embodiments, a multi-cell motor compartment rail is provided for a vehicle. The system comprises an inner rail member and an outer rail member. Partition members couple to the inner rail member and outer rail member and are configured to form multiple cells within the engine compartment rail system when the inner rail member and outer rail member are coupled together.
In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a method for forming a multi-cell motor compartment rail is provided. The method comprises coupling a first partition member to an inner rail member of an engine compartment rail system and coupling a second partition member to an outer rail member of an engine compartment rail system. Next, the inner rail member and the outer rail member are coupled together to form the multi-cell motor compartment rail.
The subject matter will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and:
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the subject matter of the disclosure or its uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.
In this document, relational terms such as first and second, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. Numerical ordinals such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. simply denote different singles of a plurality and do not imply any order or sequence unless specifically defined by the claim language.
Additionally, the following description refers to elements or features being “connected” or “coupled” together. As used herein, “connected” may refer to one element/feature being directly joined to (or directly communicating with) another element/feature, and not necessarily mechanically. Likewise, “coupled” may refer to one element/feature being directly or indirectly joined to (or directly or indirectly communicating with) another element/feature, and not necessarily mechanically. However, it should be understood that, although two elements may be described below, in one embodiment, as being “connected,” in alternative embodiments similar elements may be “coupled,” and vice versa. Thus, although the schematic diagrams shown herein depict example arrangements of elements, additional intervening elements, devices, features, or components may be present in an actual embodiment.
Finally, for the sake of brevity, conventional techniques and components related to vehicle mechanical parts and other functional aspects of the system (and the individual operating components of the system) may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent example functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in an embodiment of the invention. It should also be understood that
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components,
According to exemplary embodiments, the vehicle 10 includes a frame, a motor compartment rail 12 portion of which is shown. The motor compartment rail 12 comprises two materials joined together. A first section 14 is made from ultra high strength (UHS) steel, while a second section 16 is made from high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel. The UHS steel section 14 provides increased mid-rail capacity due to the strength of the material. However, UHS steel does not generally offer a robust axial crush mechanism. Accordingly, the HSLA steel section 16 of the present disclosure provides controlled deformation of the motor compartment rail 12 in an axial (fore-aft) direction, so that the motor compartment rail of the exemplary embodiments may deform and absorb energy in a collision, as will be discussed in more detail below.
In the embodiment illustrated in
Accordingly, a multi-cell motor compartment rail is provided for a vehicle. The multi-cell motor compartment rail of the present disclosure offers sufficient collision mitigation that it can be used without the added mass, expense or assembly time of a conventional crush box.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. An engine compartment rail system, comprising:
- an inner rail member;
- an outer rail member; and
- partition members coupled to the inner rail member and outer rail member and configured to form five cells within the engine compartment rail system when the inner rail member and outer rail member are coupled together.
2. (canceled)
3. The engine compartment rail system of claim 2, wherein four of the five cells have a substantially triangular shape.
4. The engine compartment rail system of claim 2, wherein one of the five cells has a substantially diamond shape.
5. The engine compartment rail system of claim 1, wherein the partition members are spot welded between the inner rail member and outer rail member.
6. The engine compartment rail system of claim 1, wherein the partition members are laser welded to the inner rail member and outer rail member.
7. The engine compartment rail system of claim 1, wherein the inner rail member and outer rail member comprise die stamped, tailor welded blanks
8. The engine compartment rail system of claim 1, wherein the partition members comprise thin gauge high strength steel.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple cells formed by the partition members coupled to the inner rail member and outer rail member provide a substantially uniform axial deformation for energy dissipation.
10. A method, comprising:
- coupling a first partition member to an inner rail member of an engine compartment rail system;
- coupling a second partition member to an outer rail member of an engine compartment rail system; and
- coupling the inner rail member and the outer rail member together;
- whereby, the first partition member and the second partition member form five cells within the inner rail member and the outer rail member.
11. method of claim 10, wherein coupling the first partition member to the inner rail member comprises spot welding the first partition member to the inner rail member.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein coupling the second partition member to the outer rail member comprises spot welding the second partition member to the outer rail member.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein coupling the first partition member to the inner rail member comprises laser welding the first partition member to the inner rail member.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein coupling the second partition member to the outer rail member comprises laser welding the second partition member to the outer rail member.
15. A vehicle, comprising:
- a powertrain having an engine;
- a frame including an engine compartment rail system for receiving the engine, the engine compartment rail system comprising: an inner rail member; an outer rail member; and partition members coupled to the inner rail member and outer rail member and configured to form five cells within the engine compartment rail system when the inner rail member and outer rail member are coupled together.
16. (canceled)
17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein four of the five cells has a substantially triangular shape.
18. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein one of the five cells have a substantially diamond shape.
19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the partition members are spot welded to the inner rail member and outer rail member.
20. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the partition members are laser welded to the inner rail member and outer rail member.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 5, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 11, 2013
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC (Detroit, MI)
Inventors: Dmitriy V. MAZUR (West Bloomfield, MI), Bhushan W. DANDEKAR (Rochester Hills, MI), Clare V. GUTOWSKI (St. Claire Shores, MI), Puneeth D. HONNEGOWDA (Shimoga)
Application Number: 13/253,891
International Classification: B62D 25/20 (20060101); B23P 11/00 (20060101);