DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of frame assemblies for absorbing side pole impacts experienced by a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
While moving, a vehicle may collide sideways into rigid roadside objects such as trees or poles. This impact is typically a result of losing control over the vehicle by the driver owing to overspeeding, misjudgment of a corner, or slippery roads. Such impacts can be very severe and can even cause fatal injury to passengers, the driver or both. Vehicle manufacturers perform a side pole impact test to ensure safety of a vehicle against side pole impacts. The side pole impact test is a very important test for determining safety of the vehicle, and is mandatory in many countries. In the side pole impact test, a vehicle is impacted against a rigid pole with a certain speed. The speed of the vehicle is typically defined in various safety criteria. For example, a EuroNCAP criterion requires a vehicle to be impacted with a speed of 32 kilometers per hour against a rigid pole. During the test, dummy passengers are fitted in the vehicle. The vehicle is then impacted sideways against a rigid pole with the speed defined in the particular criteria. After the impact, the vehicle body and dummy passengers are inspected to find out effect of impact on the vehicle body and injuries caused to the dummy passengers. It is observed that conventional side frame assemblies for vehicle cannot sustain the side impacts, and causes fatal injuries to passengers within the vehicle due to the impact. It is also observed that, during such impact, the side pole may intrude into the vehicle due to poor resistance offered by side frame assemblies. This can cause serious injury to the passengers, and may even cause death of the passengers.
Therefore, there is felt a need of a side frame assembly for a vehicle that can absorb side pole impacts and can safeguard passengers from fatal injuries.
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Following are few objects of the present invention which at least one embodiment of the present invention satisfies.
An object of the present invention is to provide a side frame assembly that absorbs side pole impacts.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a side frame assembly that prevents intrusion of a pole into a vehicle during a side pole impact.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a side frame assembly that safeguards passengers from side pole impacts.
SUMMARY
The present invention envisages a side frame assembly of a vehicle for absorbing side pole impacts. The assembly comprises an outer side frame member, an inner side frame member, and a pair of cross members. The inner side frame member is arranged in a spaced apart configuration with the outer side frame member. The pair of cross members is connected between the outer side frame member and the inner side frame member. The cross members have at least one bent portion defined on the cross member. Each cross member has at least one reinforcement section configured along a length thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a side frame assembly of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Although specific terms are used in the following description for sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.
References in the specification to “an embodiment” mean that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
A side frame assembly (hereinafter also referred as ‘assembly’), of the present invention, is now described with reference to Figure 1.
Referring to Figure 1, a side frame assembly 100 is shown.
The assembly 100 comprises an outer side frame member 110 and an inner side frame member 120. In an embodiment, the outer side frame member 110 and the inner side frame member 120 can be a part of chassis of a vehicle or the inner side frame member 120 can be separately connected to the chassis of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the inner side frame member 120 is a part of the chassis.
The outer side frame member 110 and the inner side frame member 120 are configured on both sides of the vehicle such that during the side pole impact with any side of the vehicle, the outer side frame member 110 is subjected to direct collision with a side pole or an object onto which the vehicle is collided sideways. Although the present invention is described with reference to an impact with a side pole, the assembly 100 is useful in case of vehicle’s sideways impact with any object.
The outer side frame member 110 comprises a first bulk head 130 attached to an operative outer surface thereof. The bulk head can be any member of component which minimizes propagation of shocks through the outer side frame member 110 during an impact. For example, the bulk head 130 can be a solid or hollow member as shown in figure 1.
The inner side frame member 120 is arranged in a spaced apart configuration with said outer side frame member 110. In an embodiment, the outer side frame member 110 and the inner side frame member 120 are arranged parallel to each other.
The inner side frame member 120 comprises a second bulk head 140 attached to an operative inner surface thereof. It is to be noted that the terms ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ used in the specification are with respect to the vehicle or chassis of the vehicle.
The second bulk head 140 functions in similar way to that of the first bulk head 130. The second bulk head 140 can have similar configuration as that of the first bulk head 130 or can have a different configuration depending upon the application and type of the vehicle in which the assembly 100 is to be fitted.
The assembly 100 comprises a pair of cross members 150. The cross members 150 are connected between the outer side frame member 110 and the inner side frame member 120. In an embodiment, the cross members 150 are connected orthogonally with respect to the outer side frame member 110 and the inner side frame member 120. The cross members 150 are configured to deform during a side pole impact, thereby absorbing shock of the impact and minimizing the propagation of the shock to the inner side frame member 120 and the inside of the vehicle.
The cross members 150 can have any profile suitable for absorbing shocks. In an embodiment, each cross member 150 has at least one bent portion 160 defined on the cross member 150. The cross members 150 are configured to deform at the bent portion 160 during the side pole impact, thereby preventing the shock from propagating to the inner side frame member 120 and thus to the passengers. In an embodiment, the cross member 150 can have more than one bent portion 160.
The cross members 150 are configured using any suitable process and any suitable material. In an embodiment, the cross members 150 are configured via a hydro-forming process. In another embodiment, the cross members 150 are made of Micro-alloyed ERW Tubes.
Various reinforcement sections are provided on the components of the assembly 100 to minimize the damage to the components during the impact.
Each cross member 150 has at least one reinforcement section configured along a length thereof. Each cross member 150 includes a first reinforcement section 170 configured at the bent portion 160 of the cross members 150. Further, each cross member 150 includes a second reinforcement section 175 configured along the length of the cross members 150.
Each of the outer side frame member 110 and the inner side frame member 120 includes a third reinforcement section 180 configured thereon.
The reinforcement sections 170, 175, 180 can be made of any suitable material. In an embodiment, the reinforcement sections 170, 175, 180 are made of HSLA460.
In an embodiment, the cross members 150 includes ribs to improve stiffness of the cross members 150.
During impact, the first bulk head 130 of the assembly 100 is subjected to the impact. The shock of the impact then propagates to the second bulk head 140 through the outer side frame member 110, the cross member 150, and the inner side frame member 120. The path of propagation of the impact shock is shown by arrows in Figure 1. The impact shock is absorbed by the cross members 150. During impact, the cross members 150 deform at bent portion 160, thereby reducing propagation and intensity of the impact shock. The cross members 150 are made of material which can absorb maximum shocks arising due to side impacts.
The bulk heads 130, 140 minimize the intrusion of the pole inside vehicle’s cabin and frame structure. This safeguards passengers from fatal injury. The ribs and reinforcement sections of the assembly 100 help in distributing the impact load, thereby ensuring passenger’s safety.
The assembly, of the present invention, absorbs side pole impacts and safeguards passengers. The assembly also prevents intrusion of a pole into the vehicle’s cabin during side impact.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others, skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 – Side frame assembly
110 – Outer side frame member
120 – Inner side frame member
130 – First bulk head
140 – Second bulk head 150 – Cross member
160 – Bent portion
170 – First reinforcement section
175 – Second reinforcement section
180 – Third reinforcement section

,CLAIMS:
1. A side frame assembly (100) of a vehicle for absorbing side pole impacts, said assembly (100) comprising:
an outer side frame member (110);
an inner side frame member (120) arranged in a spaced apart configuration with said outer side frame member (110); and
a pair of cross members (150) connected between said outer side frame member (110) and said inner side frame member (120), said cross members (150) having at least one bent portion (160) defined on said cross member (150), each cross member (150) having at least one reinforcement section configured along a length thereof.
2. The side frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cross members (150) are configured to deform during a side pole impact, thereby absorbing shock of said impact.
3. The side frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer side frame member (110) includes a first bulk head (130) attached to an outer surface thereof.
4. The side frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner side frame member (120) includes a second bulk head (140) attached to an inner surface thereof.
5. The side frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each cross member (150) includes a first reinforcement section (170) configured at said bent portion (160) of said cross members (150).
6. The side frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each cross member (150) includes a second reinforcement section (175) configured along the length of said cross members (150).
7. The side frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the said inner side frame member (120) and said outer side frame members (110) includes a third reinforcement section (180) configured thereon.
8. The side frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cross members (150) includes a plurality of ribs configured thereon.
9. The side frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cross members (150) are of Micro-alloyed Electric Resistance Welded (ERW) tubes.
10. The side frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cross members (150) are configured via a hydro-forming process.
11. The side frame assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cross members (150) are orthogonally connected to said outer side frame members (110) and said inner side frame member (120).