Abstract: A front structure of a vehicle includes torque box members connecting front side frames and side sills, and front suspension member supports integrally provided on the torque box members. According to the structure of the present invention, the number of members is decreased, and the supporting rigidity of the front suspension member supports is increased. Furthermore, the geometry of the front suspension members supports is maintained by being prevented from local deformation by load application from the suspension member to the front suspension member supports. Thus, the excellent driving stability and maneuverability of the vehicle are assured.

Abstract: A vehicle front body structure of a vehicle of framed construction, which includes: a pair of hood ledges which constitute inner walls on left and right sides of the vehicle front body; a pair of side rails to which the hood ledges are respectively connected at their front ends; and a radiator support connected to both of the front ends of the hood ledges. Each of the hood ledges is provided on a transversely outer side thereof with a box-section member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A beam cast of an Al—Mg alloy is used for mounting various automotive vehicle components adjacent to a cowl/plenum structure at the forward end of a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. The beam includes a laterally extending main beam portion attached at the ends thereof to the driver side and passenger side front pillars. A plurality of spaced strap portions, cast unitary with the laterally extending main beam portion, extend forward from the main beam portion for attachment to the cowl/plenum structure. A pair of vertical strut portions, also cast unitary with the main beam portion, have a space therebetween for accommodating HVAC components. The pair of substantially vertical strut portions have lower ends adapted to attach to vertical steel struts that anchor the lower ends of the substantially vertical strut portions to a floor brace.

Abstract: A body panel includes a hood portion configured to extend over and across a vehicle front compartment, and two fender portions. A unitary, one-piece inner panel and a unitary, one-piece outer panel cooperate to define the hood portion and the two fender portions. The inner panel and the outer panel comprise a substantial portion of a vehicle body front end, replacing the multitude of inner panels, outer panels, and reinforcements in a prior art vehicle body. The body panel preferably functions as a load-bearing vehicle frame portion, reducing or eliminating prior art vehicle frame components. A method of manufacturing the body panel includes forming an inner panel and an outer panel using superplastic forming, quick plastic forming, or sheet hydroforming, and connecting the inner panel and the outer panel.

Abstract: An energy absorbing knee bolster for use in an interior of a vehicle is disclosed. The knee bolster is configured to absorb energy from the vehicle's occupants during a crash. The knee bolster is formed of a collapsible cylinder which is welded to an impact plate on its first end and to a vehicle's cross-car beam at its second end. A coupling flange is disposed between the impact plate and a medial portion of the collapsible cylinder. The collapsible cylinder is configured to axially collapse at a predetermined force when impacted by a moving occupant.

Abstract: An arrangement F(1,1?,1?) for weakening a structure (4,4?,12?), comprises at least one element (8,28) arranged at the structure (4,4?,12?) to affect its strength, a sensor (9) arranged to sense impact acting on the structure (4,4?,12?) and a control unit (10) disposed to, firstly, receive signals when the signal received from the sensor (9) agrees with a set value. The element (8,28) comprises an explosive charge (11), which is disposed to detonate when the control signal is emitted from the control unit (10). The explosive charge (11) is disposed at the element (8,28) in such a manner that the element (8,28) awakens the strength of the structure (4,4?,12?) when the explosive charge (11) detonates.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure in which a ridge of a front side member is continuous with a ridge of a dash brace to make it possible to efficiently transmit an impact force, and which is capable of realizing an intended deformation of the front side member suited to the impact force, while effectively utilizing a reaction force generated in a side frame member. A front portion of the dash brace is inserted into the front side member through a notch formed in a dash panel, and is overlapped with and spot-welded to a side face of the front side member, whereby the ridge of the front side member is directly continuous with the ridge of the dash brace.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle, a strut is arranged between the cowl cross member and the center console cross member. The strut is supported in the cowl cross member on a junction element by way of a holder. The junction element includes a profile element and a structural foam part arranged above the latter, which structural foam part swells as a result of a heat treatment, and a precisely fitting filling-out of the interior of the cowl cross member is achieved.

Abstract: A body suitable for motor vehicles, especially for passenger cars, comprises a passenger compartment with at least one supporting structure connected thereto, for example, for accommodating a driving unit and wheel guiding elements, the supporting structure being connected by a holder with the passenger compartment. To optimize this body, the supporting structure, having a connecting region to the passenger compartment, and a rear end region, is formed by an enveloping device of high strength, especially of fiberglass-reinforced plastic, the strength of which is optimized, the enveloping device surrounding the driving unit substantially all around.

Abstract: In a vehicle body structure, rear portions of right and left front side members are gently curved downward, and rear end portions of the right and left front side members are bonded to front floor side members. A dash panel is provided to separate an engine compartment and a passenger compartment of a vehicle. A cross member dash assuming a closed cross-sectional shape is fixed to a front surface of the dash panel. Opposite end portions of the cross member dash are bent toward the rear of the vehicle to constitute bent portions. Side member braces are laid between the front side members and the bent portions of the cross member dash to connect them together.

Abstract: A front end assembly for a motor vehicle having spaced apart upper and lower side rails includes an elongated upper cross member adapted to be fixedly secured to and extend between the spaced apart upper side rails. The upper cross member has a mounting surface extending the length thereof. The front end assembly also includes an elongated lower cross member adapted be fixedly secured to and extend between the spaced apart lower side rails. The lower cross member has a mounting surface extending along the length thereof. In addition, the front end assembly includes a component integration panel having upper and lower mounting portions for complementary mating engagement with the mounting surfaces of the respective upper and lower cross members to position the component integration panel between the upper and lower side rails and provide support to the component integration panel.

Abstract: A vehicle body frame is such that hollow frame members 40 such as side frames extending longitudinally along a vehicle body are provided thereon. Two inner partition plates 42, 43 are integrally formed in the interior of each of the hollow frame member in such a manner that the two inner partition plates extend in a longitudinal direction of the frame member and are close to each other along plate surfaces 42a, 43a thereof, so that a central space portion 44 defined by the two inner partition plates therebetween is formed in the interior of the hollow frame member, whereby side plates 41 constituting the hollow frame member can be dissociated at portions of the side plates which face the central space portion by virtue of a buckling load.

Abstract: A vehicle body front structure is provided with a front side member, a dash panel, an extension member connected to the front side member at a rear side thereof and extending along the dash panel to have a lower curved section, a suspension member located below the front side member and having a rear end connected to the lower curved section of the extension member, an extension rear member located above a floor panel, and a floor member connected to the extension member at a rear side of the lower curved section of the extension member. The extension rear member has a closed cross-sectional structure that extends in the fore and aft direction of the vehicle body. The floor member is located above the extension rear member to be superposed on and connected to the extension rear member and has an upper wall with increased thickness.

Abstract: Each of the CCD cameras 10A, 10B for making a film of a vehicle forward road environment is mounted on the both ends of a chassis 16 with a high stiffness. A mounting seat member 17 is formed at a center of the chassis 16. The CCD cameras 10A, 10B are mounted onto a vehicle body through fixing the mounting seat member 17 onto the vehicle body. Portions other than the mounting seat member 17 of the chassis 16 are disposed apart from the vehicle body.

Abstract: A front vehicle frame structure is configured to distribute an impact load imparted from the front of the vehicle to front side members and side frames. The front vehicle frame structure includes a pair of front side members and a pair of side frames coupled together by a center cross frame. Each of the front side members and corresponding one of the side frames are coupled together at locations that are closer to the vehicle front and that are closer to the vehicle rear than the center cross frame with respect to the front to rear direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: An insert element (8) for sealing cavities (6, 7) in vehicle body carriers (4) has sealing means constituted by a foamable material (11) which is secured in the cavities (6, 7) by securing means (9). The insert element (8) comprises a foamable material (11) and a support structure (10) which comprises a frame (13) and an inner part (14) for carrying the foamable material (11). The frame (13) has at least two lateral and not immediately oppositely arranged support faces (12), and carries securing means (9). With this arrangement, the foamable material can completely engulf the securing means (9) with foam during the foaming process and can flow into apertures of an intermediate metal sheet (5) foreseen for receiving the securing means (9). This ensures that these apertures are impermeably sealed against air and noise during the foaming process.

Abstract: A side member and bumper beam attaching structure has a side member adapted to retain the strength of a vehicle body in a longitudinal direction thereof, a bracket attached to the side member from a front or rear of the vehicle body, and a bumper beam attached to the bracket from the front or rear of the vehicle body. The side member has a closed cross-sectioned end portion at either a front end or a rear end of the vehicle body. The bracket is fitted into an inside of the closed cross-sectioned end portion for fixation to the side member.

Abstract: In a front gable portion (13) of a rubber-tired new traffic vehicle (11), an outer bumper (45) is fixed to the exterior of an inner bumper (32) constituting an underframe (33), front beams (47, 48) and side beams (49) are constructed between a roof frame (42) and the outer bumper (45), the front beams (47, 48) are inclined and curved in harmony with the streamlined design of the vehicle (11), and straight portions (47a, 48a) of predetermined lengths are formed in lower end portions of the front beams (47, 48) along a vertical direction.

Abstract: A combined structure of a front part of a cabin of an automobile has a dash panel and a front pillar. The dash pane is placed in the front part of a cabinet, extending in the width direction of an automobile, and forms a tire house bulged toward the inside of a cabin under both left and right sides. The dash panel has a panel flange extending rearward of vehicles from the proximal end of both edges. The front pillar is formed by a front pillar inner and a front pillar outer joined in pillar flanges where they are faced each other in the width direction. In the front pillar, the pillar flanges in the forward of vehicles are joined to the panel flange. The front ends of the pillar flange is located more rearward of vehicles than the proximal end.

Abstract: To provide a front-end panel which is low-cost and looks attractive when incorporating a reinforcement, a front-end panel includes a first holding member provided along the reinforcement so as to hold one edge of the reinforcement, a second holding member provided along the reinforcement so as to hold the other edge of the reinforcement, and connecting bands for connecting the first holding member with the second holding member.

Abstract: The modular front end forms the front portion of a motor vehicle. The modular front end includes a bulkhead defining a plurality of integrally formed attachment mounts. A drive train assembly carrying at least an engine of the motor vehicle is attached to the bulkhead at the attachment mounts. A crash energy absorption assembly is attached to the attachment mounts on the bulkhead and generally extends around the drive train assembly. An apron assembly is attached to the bulkhead at the attachment mounts and is generally positioned above the drive train assembly and crash energy absorption assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle body front section structure is provided with longitudinal frame members that are connected by curved parts to the back surface of a widthwise frame member to disperse the load when the vehicle undergoes a front collision. In particular, wedge-shaped open spaces exist between the back surface of the widthwise frame member and the wall surface of the curved part of each longitudinal frame member that faces the back surface. Consequently, when the vehicle undergoes a front collision, the rearward collapsing of the widthwise frame member causes the curved part to gradually undergo bending deformation while being folded over in such a manner that the wall surface thereof that faces the back surface touches against the back surface.

Abstract: A body panel functions as a hood by at least partially concealing an engine compartment, and functions as a structural load-bearing portion of a vehicle frame by structurally interconnecting vehicle frame members. The body panel preferably includes a hood portion and two fender portions.

Abstract: In a support structure for a commercial motor vehicle including two longitudinal frame members between which a drive unit including an internal combustion engine and a transmission is arranged and wherein the support structure has an independent wheel suspension for each of the vehicles front wheels, each with an upper A-arm and a lower A-arm mounted to the support structure for supporting the front wheels, a support unit is provided which, in front and behind a space for receiving the drive unit extends around the longitudinal frame members and is fastened to the longitudinal frame members and on which at least the lower A-arms are mounted.

Abstract: The coupling structure of a hood lock stay which is coupled in the vertical direction of a vehicle each other with almost center portions of a radiator core support upper member and a radiator core support lower member respectively extending in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle, the hood lock stay securing a hood lock to the upper portion thereof, in which the radiator core support upper member is formed to have an opened cross-sectional shape provided with at least a wall portion. The upper portion of the hood lock stay is disposed so as to cover the opening of the opened cross-section of the radiator core support upper member, so that a box shape is formed. In this state of forming the box shape, these two are coupled.

Abstract: A front structure of a vehicle includes a suspension cross member provided between left and right front side frames; wheel aprons, each provided between an upper side frame and the front side frame; and strut towers connected to the upper side frames, front side frames and wheel aprons. A pair of strut tower reinforcing members form vertically extending structures with closed hollow cross sections in cooperation with the strut towers. The structures with the closed cross hollow cross sections are arranged to correspond to ends of the suspension cross member with respect to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: The modular front end forms the front portion of a motor vehicle. The modular front end includes a bulkhead defining a plurality of integrally formed attachment mounts. A drive train assembly carrying at least an engine of the motor vehicle is attached to the bulkhead at the attachment mounts. A crash energy absorption assembly is attached to the attachment mounts on the bulkhead and generally extends around the drive train assembly. An apron assembly is attached to the bulkhead at the attachment mounts and is generally positioned above the drive train assembly and crash energy absorption assembly.

Abstract: A front structure of a vehicle includes torque box members connecting front side frames and side sills, and front suspension member supports integrally provided on the torque box members. According to the structure of the present invention, the number of members is decreased, and the supporting rigidity of the front suspension member supports is increased. Furthermore, the geometry of the front suspension members supports is maintained by being prevented from local deformation by load application from the suspension member to the front suspension member supports. Thus, the excellent driving stability and maneuverability of the vehicle are assured.

Abstract: A fender structure which includes a pair of fenders provided at sides of an engine compartment. Each of the fenders has a platform portion extending toward inside of the engine compartment, and a longitudinal wall portion extending downward from an inner edge of the platform portion and joined to a reinforcing member in the engine compartment. The longitudinal wall portion of the fender is slanted, extending outward in a vehicle transverse direction.

Abstract: A front structure of a vehicle includes a toe board, a pair of front side frames extending in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle, a toe board cross member extending in a widthwise direction of the vehicle so as to connect the front side frames with each other, the toe board cross member and the toe board defining a structure having a dosed cross section, and front suspension member supports provided on the front side frames, the toe board cross member extending to positions in the vicinity of the front suspension member supports.

Abstract: The modular front end forms the front portion of a motor vehicle. The modular front end includes a bulkhead defining a plurality of integrally formed attachment mounts. A drive train assembly carrying at least an engine of the motor vehicle is attached to the bulkhead at the attachment mounts. A crash energy absorption assembly is attached to the attachment mounts on the bulkhead and generally extends around the drive train assembly. An apron assembly is attached to the bulkhead at the attachment mounts and is generally positioned above the drive train assembly and crash energy absorption assembly.

Abstract: A passenger car is configured with a dashboard installed between a front of the car and a passenger compartment. At least two front longitudinal beams are installed at a distance from each other and are connected to this dashboard, lateral exterior frontwalls, a floor and upright A-columns. In the area of the dashboard, a support structure is provided by means of which the front longitudinal beams are connected to the upright A-columns, the frontwalls, the dashboard and the center tunnel as power transmitters.

Abstract: A fender support system, including at least one molded fender support arrangement configured to couple to at least one fender arrangement, in which the fender support arrangement is configured to provide at least one of primary and secondary attachments for under-the-hood vehicle components.

Abstract: A vehicle front body structure which includes: a pair of side members extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction; a bumper reinforcing member connected to front ends of the side members; a cross member connected to bottoms of the side members in the vicinities of the front ends thereof; and a connecting member connected to the bumper reinforcing member and the cross member. Connection strength between the connecting member and the bumper reinforcing member in the vehicle longitudinal direction is lower than a flexural strength of the cross member in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A pair of left and right front frames are formed with brittle sections on proximal portions of the frames, by the provision of the smaller cross-sectional area than other sections of the frame. The brittle sections and their peripheral sections are processed so as to become approximately equal to the other sections of the front frames in axial compressive strength by way of a hardening treatment like quenching. In an early-phase of a collision, the hardened brittle sections will not buckle so as to induce larger initial load. Thereafter, the brittle sections will buckle because of their lower ductility, so that the front frames begin bending deformation to effectively absorb the collision energy.

Abstract: A vehicle front structure including a pair of front side members extending in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, each including a first front end portion with a first leading end, and a pair of subframes extending along the front side members on a lower side thereof, each including a second front end portion with a second leading end. The first and second front end portions are connected with each other via a connecting portion therebetween. An abutment member in the form of a tie-down hook or a first cross member is connected with the subframes via the connecting portion. The abutment member includes a front end forward offset from the first and second leading ends of the front side members and the subframes and a portion placed at substantially same height as the second front end portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an end module assembly for installation on a motor vehicle and a method for assembling the same. The assembly comprises an exterior fascia configured to comprise a portion of a vehicle body when the assembly is installed on the vehicle. An external visible component is configured to be positioned in a predetermined orientation with respect to the fascia with surfaces thereof facing exteriorly of the fascia. The external component is positioned relative to the fascia such that the position controlling portion guides the external component into the predetermined orientation and supports the component thereat, thereby allowing the assembly to be installed on the vehicle without requiring reorientation of the component. The present invention also relates to a loading fixture for installing a front end module assembly onto a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicle body includes a step of positioning a pair of front side members so that a span between the front side members is adjusted at a first design span, a step of connecting a pair of hood-ledge reinforcements with hood ledges fixed to the front side members, respectively, while keeping the first design span, so that a span between each hood-ledge reinforcement and each front side member is substantially equal to a second design span; a step of positioning again the front side members connected to the hood-ledge reinforcements so that the span between the front side members is adjusted at the first design span; and a step of attaching a front-end module to the vehicle body while keeping the first design span.

Abstract: A radiator core support structure includes an upper elongate member made of metal, and a lower elongate member made of metal. Between the upper and lower elongate members, there extend mutually spaced pillar portions of integrally molded plastic. The connection between the pillar portions and each of the upper and lower elongate members is integrally carried out by injection molding.

Abstract: An automobile front pillar (1; 40; 50) includes, at a portion thereof positioned closely to a passenger compartment (16) of an automobile (10), a weak portion (27b; 47b; 62) for initiating the buckling of the front pillar upon application of a shock to that part of the front pillar positioned remotely from the compartment. When an obstacle collides with the front pillar portion positioned remotely from the compartment, the weak portion collapses by the resulting collision shock to cause the front pillar to buckle. The collision shock is partly absorbed by the buckling front pillar, whereby the shock applied to the obstacle is significantly damped.

Abstract: A vehicle front-end body structure, includes: front side members provided along a left side and a right side of a front portion of a vehicle body, a front deck cross member provided between side walls of the vehicle body, including joint portions for joining the front deck cross member to the side walls; and a connecting member made up of a pipe material including end portions and a middle portion disposed between the end portions. The end portions are joined to the vicinities of the joint portions respectively. The middle portion is joined to the front side members respectively.

Abstract: A radiator core support structure for a vehicle including a radiator core support upper section extending generally along a direction of width of the vehicle. A radiator core support lower section is provided extending generally along the direction of width of the vehicle and located below the radiator core support upper section. Here, the radiator core support upper section and/or lower section are formed of metal and has an open loop-shaped cross-section which is opened rearward to form a channel. A hood lock stay is provided extending generally vertical, to connect the generally central parts of the radiator core support upper and lower sections. The hood lock stay is formed of synthetic resin and molded in a metallic mold in which the radiator core support upper section and/or lower section are located. A plurality of reinforcement ribs are formed of the synthetic resin and fixedly disposed inside the channel of the radiator core support upper section and/or lower section.

Abstract: A bumper device can reduce a weight of a reinforcement member more than a weight of a conventional reinforcement member while sufficiently absorbing a given impact energy. A size “b” between both side mounting portions where the reinforcement member is mounted on a stay is set greater than a size “a” between both side longitudinal wall portions of a side frame, both outer longitudinal walls of the stay are inclined such that both outer longitudinal walls are opened toward the reinforcement member, and the distance between the inner longitudinal walls is set substantially equal to the distance between the both side longitudinal wall portions of the side frame.

Abstract: A stabilized frame assembly 32 for a motor vehicle 10 including a pair 34 of forwardly directed brace members 36, 38. Each brace member 36, 38 of the pair 34 is coupled at a forward end 40 to an impact receiving assembly 46 such as a front bumper assembly. The brace members 36, 38 are coupled for support at a rearward end 42 to a respective one of a pair 48 of stabilized support arrangements 50, 52. Each of the stabilized support arrangements 50, 52 are configured to resist deformation under the influence of crash related impact forces having magnitudes in a manageable design range for the stabilized support arrangement 50, 52. Each of the pair of stabilized support arrangements 50, 52 are constructed to include a plurality of support legs 56 that are configured so that loads or forces transmitted from the supported brace member 36, 38 to the stabilized support arrangement 50, 52 are distributed as substantially axial loads in the plurality of support legs 56.

Abstract: A load-bearing structure for motor vehicles has a load-bearing floor of lightweight construction merging at its front in a footwell region into an upwardly projecting end wall. The structure also has a front-end structure which forms a crumple zone, is supported in the region of the end wall, and includes lightweight structural panels running in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the vehicle. The footwell region is bounded laterally and at the top by a panel arrangement of lightweight construction which, together with the floor and the end wall, forms a supporting box for the front-end structure.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a front pillar panel assembly for a vehicle. The front pillar panel assembly includes a side inner panel and a side outer panel, welded together so as to form a closed box-shape in cross-section. A side outer reinforcing panel and a door upper mounting panel are welded together and added along an inner surface of the side inner panel in a sequential manner. An outer bracket is coupled along the inside face of the side inner panel, with both ends welded to the door upper mounting panel. Furthermore, a door upper mounting reinforcing bracket is included and welded along the inner surface of the door upper mounting panel.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes an end region and a receptacle arranged in the end region. The end region includes a pan made at least partially of a fiber reinforced plastic, and the pan functions as an impact deformable element.

Abstract: An adjustable fastener assembly for a vehicle includes a retainer for connection to a first vehicle part and a tab portion for connection to a second vehicle part to be received by the retainer. The adjustable fastener assembly also includes an adjustable mechanism between the tab portion and the retainer to act as a temporary holding device to prevent the tab portion from exiting the retainer after a position of the first vehicle part and the second vehicle part are set to a desired location relative to each other.

Abstract: A rail (14) for an automotive frame (12) is provided for absorbing kinetic energy in front end crashes. The rail (14) is a metal bar having a front portion and a plurality of indentations (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D) integrally formed therein along the longitudinal axis (42). The indentations (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D) are intended to permit the deformation of the metal bar so as to enhance the absorption of the kinetic energy of a front end crash.

Abstract: This body structure is suitable for a motor vehicle, especially for a passenger car, which is provided with deformation elements of metal, which extend at a distance from the longitudinal median plane of the vehicle. When viewed in the height direction of the vehicle, these deformation elements have several deformation hollow supports, which are one above the other and extend, for example, between a front region and a dimensionally stable passenger compartment. To optimize the body structure, each deformation element has a first, lower deformation hollow support, a second, middle deformation hollow support and a third, upper deformation hollow support, the deformation hollow supports connecting relatively short cross-members and being connected through the agency of a mounting plate with a transverse wall of the passenger compartment in their end region facing the front region.