GB2332883A - Energy absorbing vehicle subframe - Google Patents

Energy absorbing vehicle subframe Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2332883A
GB2332883A GB9726827A GB9726827A GB2332883A GB 2332883 A GB2332883 A GB 2332883A GB 9726827 A GB9726827 A GB 9726827A GB 9726827 A GB9726827 A GB 9726827A GB 2332883 A GB2332883 A GB 2332883A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
subframe
steering rack
vehicle
supporting portion
attached
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9726827A
Other versions
GB9726827D0 (en
Inventor
Richard Peter Brown
Ian Martin Redgrave
Clark Patrick Jones
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MG Rover Group Ltd
Original Assignee
MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MG Rover Group Ltd filed Critical MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority to GB9726827A priority Critical patent/GB2332883A/en
Publication of GB9726827D0 publication Critical patent/GB9726827D0/en
Publication of GB2332883A publication Critical patent/GB2332883A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D21/00—Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted
    • B62D21/15—Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body
    • B62D21/152—Front or rear frames
    • B62D21/155—Sub-frames or underguards
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D21/00—Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted
    • B62D21/11—Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted with resilient means for suspension, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

A vehicle subframe comprises a rear support portion 10 supporting a steering rack 42, and a front impact portion 12, the rack support portion 18 being caused to move downwards relative to the passenger compartment in the event of a frontal impact on the vehicle. The rack support portion 18 is connected at its ends to subframe side members 14, 16 which are attached to the vehicle body at rear mountings 20 and front mountings 24. Each side member 14, 16 is provided with a weakening depression 66 in its upper side to cause its downward collapse.

Description

Vehicle Subframes The present invention relates to subframes for the front of a vehicle. It is known, for example from GB2235660 and US4781398, to provide a vehicle subframe which carries various components of the vehicle, such as steering and suspension components, and is arranged to deform on impact to absorb energy thereby helping to protect occupants of the vehicle in the event of a crash.
The present invention provides a vehicle subassembly comprising a subframe for mounting on a vehicle body, the subframe comprising a steering rack support portion supporting a steering rack and a front impact portion arranged in use to the front of the steering rack, wherein control means are provided for controlling the movement of the steering rack supporting portion in the event of a frontal impact such that the steering rack supporting portion tends to move downwards relative to a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
Preferably the controlling means comprises a portion of the subframe which is shaped so as to produce the downward movement of the steering rack on frontal impact.
Preferably the subframe is arranged to be attached to the vehicle body at a point to the rear of the steering rack supporting portion and the control means is arranged to cause the steering rack supporting portion to move downwards relative to said point.
Preferably the control means comprises a portion of the subframe between said point and the steering rack supporting portion.
Preferably the subframe is also attached to the body at a point to the front of the steering rack supporting portion.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle subframe according to the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a section through part of the subframe of Figure 1.
A vehicle subframe comprises a rear part 10 and a front part 12. The rear part 10 comprises a pair of side sections 14, 16 extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X of the vehicle, and a transverse cross beam 18 joined at its ends to the side sections 14, 16 approximately mid-way between their ends. Each side section 14, 16 is attached to the vehicle body at two points: a rear mounting 20 at its rear end 22 and a front mounting 24 at its front end 26. Each front mounting 24 comprises a mounting bracket 28 which has lower end 30 attached to the side section 14, 16 and its upper end 32 attached to the vehicle body.
The rear part 10 of the subframe therefore forms a rigid H-shaped support, attached to the vehicle body at each corner, to which various components of the vehicle can be attached. Specifically, a suspension arm 34 is mounted on each side section 14, 16 by means of a pair of bushes 36, 38.
One of these 36 is approximately level with the rear edge 39 of the cross beam 18, and has a horizontal axis parallel to that of the cross beam 18, and the other 38 is approximately level with the front edge 40 of the cross beam 18 and has a vertical axis. Together the bushes 36, 38 define a pivot axis, extending substantially parallel to the side section 14, 16, about which the suspension arm 34 can pivot, allowing vertical movement of the wheel mounted on it.
A steering rack 42 is also mounted on the cross beam 18, as is an antiroll bar 44.
The front part 12 of the subframe is formed from a piece of tubing 45 which is bent so as to form a front portion 46 arranged to extend across the vehicle and two side portions 48 extending rearwardly from the ends of the front portion. Each of the side portions 48 includes a first portion 50 extending outwards and rearwards from the end of the front portion 46, a second portion 52 extending inwards and rearwards from the rear end of the first portion, and a third portion 54 extending rearwardly, parallel to the longitudinal axis X - X of the vehicle, from the rear end of the second portion. At the free end of each of the third portions 54, the tube 45 ends in a straight joint portion 56, which is arranged to be a sliding fit into a joint portion 58 at the front end of the corresponding side section 14, 16 of the rear part 10 of the subframe, just forward of the mounting brackets 28.
Aligned holes 60 through the joint portions 56, 58 allow the front and rear parts 10, 12 of the subframe to be releasably bolted together.
A sheet metal front mounting bracket 62 is welded onto the front part 12 of the subframe at each end of the front portion 46. These are attached to the vehicle body. A towing eye 64 is attached to one of the front mounting brackets 62.
As is shown in Figure 3, in each of the side sections 14, 16 there is a depression 66 formed in the upper side of the tubing of the subframe. This makes the upper side of the side sections weaker than the lower sides so that, if the subframe is put in compression in the event of a frontal impact, the upper side will tend to collapse more easily than the lower side, tending to cause the subframe to collapse downwards as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. Because the rear part 10 of the subframe is attached to the body at the rear mounting points 22 and the front mounting points 24, the front and rear ends of the rear part 10 tend to stay approximately level during a frontal impact and be moved towards each other. The downward bending of the rear part 10 in the region between the mounting points therefore tends to move the cross beam 18 downwards, carrying the steering rack with it.
This has the advantage that the steering rack is less likely to move straight backwards into the passenger compartment in the event of a frontal impact.

Claims (6)

  1. CLAIMS 1. a vehicle subassembly comprising a subframe for mounting on a vehicle body, the subframe comprising a steering rack support portion supporting a steering rack and a front impact portion arranged in use to the front of the steering rack, wherein control means are provided for controlling the movement of the steering rack supporting portion in the event of a frontal impact such that the steering rack supporting portion tends to move downwards relative to a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
  2. 2. A subframe according to claim 1 wherein the controlling means comprises a portion of the subframe which is shaped so as to produce the downward movement of the steering rack on frontal impact.
  3. 3. A subframe according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the subframe is arranged to be attached to the vehicle body at a point to the rear of the steering rack supporting portion and the control means is arranged to cause the steering rack supporting portion to move downwards relative to said point.
  4. 4. A subframe according to claim 3 wherein the control means comprises a portion of the subframe between said point and the steering rack supporting portion.
  5. 5. A subframe according to claim 4 wherein the subframe is also attached to the body at a point to the front of the steering rack supporting portion.
  6. 6. A subframe substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9726827A 1997-12-20 1997-12-20 Energy absorbing vehicle subframe Withdrawn GB2332883A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9726827A GB2332883A (en) 1997-12-20 1997-12-20 Energy absorbing vehicle subframe

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9726827A GB2332883A (en) 1997-12-20 1997-12-20 Energy absorbing vehicle subframe

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9726827D0 GB9726827D0 (en) 1998-02-18
GB2332883A true GB2332883A (en) 1999-07-07

Family

ID=10823873

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9726827A Withdrawn GB2332883A (en) 1997-12-20 1997-12-20 Energy absorbing vehicle subframe

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2332883A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2814426A1 (en) * 2000-09-28 2002-03-29 Euramax Ind Sa Motor vehicle shock absorber comprises hollow lengthwise member containing second hollow component with crumple zone
EP1541447A1 (en) * 2003-12-10 2005-06-15 Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH Longitudinal for an axle construction of a motor vehicle

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1531021A (en) * 1974-11-20 1978-11-01 Joye J Chassis for a motor vehicle
GB2235660A (en) * 1989-08-05 1991-03-13 Daimler Benz Ag An energy-absorbing subassembly for the front and rear regions of a motor vehicle
EP0714824A1 (en) * 1994-12-02 1996-06-05 Daihatsu Motor Company, Ltd. Supporting structure for steering gear of automobile

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1531021A (en) * 1974-11-20 1978-11-01 Joye J Chassis for a motor vehicle
GB2235660A (en) * 1989-08-05 1991-03-13 Daimler Benz Ag An energy-absorbing subassembly for the front and rear regions of a motor vehicle
EP0714824A1 (en) * 1994-12-02 1996-06-05 Daihatsu Motor Company, Ltd. Supporting structure for steering gear of automobile

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2814426A1 (en) * 2000-09-28 2002-03-29 Euramax Ind Sa Motor vehicle shock absorber comprises hollow lengthwise member containing second hollow component with crumple zone
EP1541447A1 (en) * 2003-12-10 2005-06-15 Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH Longitudinal for an axle construction of a motor vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9726827D0 (en) 1998-02-18

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0926048B1 (en) Vehicle subframes
US6109629A (en) Subframe for motor vehicles
US5611569A (en) Vehicle subframe assembly
JP4308573B2 (en) Subframes used for automobile front axles
US7407192B2 (en) Vehicle end structure
US5244053A (en) Structure of automotive vehicle suspension
JP4670959B2 (en) Truck with cab front mount
JPH08268322A (en) Car body
CN110949516A (en) Vehicle body front structure
JPS6139651Y2 (en)
KR100344336B1 (en) Sub-frame structure of vehicle
US20030075377A1 (en) Front end of a motor vehicle
JP4798398B2 (en) Tilt cab installation system
GB2332883A (en) Energy absorbing vehicle subframe
US4087117A (en) Motor vehicle rear suspension system
JP3182973B2 (en) Front body structure
US4579367A (en) Bumper support and suspension system
EP0189241A1 (en) A motor vehicle chassis
JP2004276735A (en) Front sub-frame structure
US2899236A (en) Motor vehicle chassis and suspension means
JP3461211B2 (en) Car frame structure
JPH0747844A (en) Power train supporting structure for automobile
KR100308555B1 (en) Structure for reinforcing frame of vehicle
JPH0485182A (en) Suspension supporting structure for vehicle
JP2000255237A (en) Axle suspension

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)