DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a frame providing support for a vehicle body of a land vehicle, and more particularly to a frame assembly for a vehicle facilitating Offset- Deformable Barrier (ODB) and full frontal crash protection.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Frontal crashes are responsible for more deaths and serious injuries than any other accident type. A typical scenario is a head-on collision between two oncoming vehicles at moderately high speeds. In most collisions of this type, only a part of the vehicle front width structure is involved, i.e. the two colliding vehicles are offset.
In such event, the vehicle structure is put to the test. Limited structural engagement may expose occupants to increased intrusions. Hence, crash forces have to be efficiently directed to parts of the vehicle where the energy can be efficiently and safely absorbed. The front crumple zone must collapse in a controlled way, leaving the passenger compartment as undeformed as possible. In addition, rearward movement of the steering wheel and the pedals must be limited if serious injuries are to be avoided.
Thus, there is need for a frame assembly for a vehicle which helps preventing injury to passenger and driver by efficiently absorbing the impact energy.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
These objectives are provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This objective are not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
An important objective of the invention aims at providing a compact solution for the aforementioned problems.
Another object of the invention is to provide a frame assembly which absorbs maximum impacts in front crashes.
Object of the present invention is not limited to the above mentioned problem. Other technical problems that are not mentioned will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the invention, a frame assembly facilitating Offset - Deformable Barrier crash protection for a vehicle, comprises a frame having a pair of crush tip, a pair of reinforcements, a pair of tire catchers, a pair of bulk heads, and a pair of reinforcement braces.
The frame comprises a front rail and a rear rail. The front rail and the rear rail are connected by a pair of side rails at its edges. The crush tip is a hydroformed part configured at the front end of the side rail. The reinforcement is configured by joining inside the side rail. The tyre catcher is configured by joining on the outside of side rail in the vicinity to a rear of front wheel. The bulk head is configured by joining at the rear end of the side rail. The reinforcement brace is configured to provide from inside at a junction formed of the side rail and the rear rail.
The frame assembly absorbs impact of ODB crash in the speed range of 50 - 70KMPH, such that the pair of crush tip, the pair of reinforcements, the pair of tire catchers, and the pair of bulk heads, together in the frame assembly absorbs the impact energy and avoids excess bending of the side rails, and the reinforcement braces provided from inside in the frame act as local stiffener to ensure joint integrity.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to an embodiment which is illustrated in the following figure:
Figure 1 shows a frame assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
Figure 1 shows a frame assembly (100), according to an embodiment of the present invention. The function of frame assembly (100) is to stiffen the body of a motor vehicle and to support components of the motor vehicle. The frame assembly (100) comprises a frame (102) having plurality of elements configured therein including but not limited to a pair of crush tip (104A, 104B), a pair of reinforcements (106A, 106B), a pair of tire catchers (108A, 108B), a pair of bulk heads (110A, 110B), and a pair of reinforcement braces (112A, 112B).
The frame (102) includes a front rail (102C) and a rear rail (102D). The front rail (102C) and the rear rail (102D) are connected by a pair of side rails (102A, 102B) at the edges.
Each crush tip (104A, 104B), is a hydroformed part that is provided on the front end of the side rails (102A, 102B). Preferably, the crush tip (104A, 104B) is welded at the front end of side rail (102A, 102B). Each crush tip (104A, 104B) has a profile that gradually increases in its cross section from front to rear end. There is a bead provided from a corner of tube to a crumple zone for absorbing impact and to crush the tip. Beads are provided for uniform and unidirectional impact absorption through crumple zones. Each crush tip (104A, 104B) is made of MERW2-N-380/240 as per M&M STD G 00 0157, thickness: 2.4 mm.
The reinforcements (106A, 106B), are provided on the side rails (102A, 102B). Particularly, reinforcements (106A, 106B) are welded inside side rails (102A, 102B), that are sheet metal forming parts. The reinforcements (106A, 106B) avoid excess bending of side rail (102A, 102B). The reinforcements (106A, 106B) act as a local stiffener in the frame assembly (100) to ensure joint integrity during crash events. Each of the reinforcements (106A, 106B) is made of HR GRADE MM14 HSLA460 as per M&M STD G 00 0169, thickness: 2.4 mm.
The tyre catchers (108A, 108B) are provided outside of the side rail (102A, 102B). Particularly, each tyre catcher (108A, 108B) is welded on the outside of side rail (102A, 102B) in the vicinity to rear of front wheels that are sheet metal forming parts. The tyre catchers (108A, 108B) are configured such that when vehicle come across impact, tyre loads on the catcher bracket and absorbs energy through deformation and avoid excess bending of side rail. Each of the tyre catcher (108A, 108B) is made of HR GRADE MM14 HSLA460 as per M&M STD G 00 0169, thickness: 2.6 mm.
Each bulk head (110A, 110B) is provided at the rear end of the side rail (102A, 102B) that is sheet metal forming parts. Usually, each bulk head (110A, 110B) is welded inside the side rail (102A, 102B). Bulk heads (110A, 110B) avoid excess bending of the side rail (102A, 102B). The bulk head (110A, 110B) is made of HR GRADE MM14 HSLA460 as per M&M STD G 000169, thickness :2.4mm.
The reinforcement braces (112A, 112B) are sheet metal forming parts. The reinforcement braces (112A, 112B) are provided at the junction of side rails (102A, 102B) and rear rail (102D). Particularly, the reinforcement braces (112A, 112B) are provided at the edges of the rear rail (102D) and the side rails (102A, 102B) inside the junction thereof. Preferably, the reinforcement braces (112A, 112B) are welded on the surface of side rail (102A or 102B) and rear rail (102D). The braces (112A, 112B) prevent bending of transmission cross member and protect transmission mounting failure. The brace reinforcements (112A, 112B) are made of MM13 410 as per M&M G-00-0169, thickness :2.6mm.
During an impact, said crush tip (104A, 104B), said reinforcements (106A, 106B), said tire catchers (108A, 108B), and said bulk heads (110A, 110B) together in the frame assembly (100) absorbs the impact energy and avoids excess bending of side rails (102A, 102B) of the frame (102). The reinforcement braces (112A, 112B) provided from inside at the frame front act as local stiffener to ensure joint integrity during crash events. The reinforced structure (106A, 106B) helps to meet GNCAP 4 star rating. Thus, during offset crash events the frame assembly (100) provides reduced intrusion level in passenger cabin reducing the impact severity to the occupants inside the vehicle.
The frame assembly (100) achieves reduced intrusion level in passenger cabin absorbing impact during offset crash events and reduces the impact severity to occupants inside the vehicle. The frame assembly (100) of the present invention provides assembly structure which absorbs impacts while ODB crash in the speed range of 50 - 70KMPH, more particularly for a speed of 64 KMPH.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction herein disclosed, and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention.
Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.
,CLAIMS:
1. A frame assembly (100) facilitating Offset - Deformable Barrier (ODB) crash protection for a vehicle, comprising: a frame (102) having a pair of crush tips (104A, 104B), a pair of reinforcements (106A, 106B), a pair of tire catchers (108A, 108B), a pair of bulk heads (110A, 110B), and a pair of reinforcement braces (112A, 112B),
the frame (102) having a front rail (102C) and a rear rail (102D), the front rail (102C) and the rear rail (102D) are connected at the edges by a pair of side rails (102A, 102B);
each of the crush tip (104A, 104B) is a hydroformed part configured at the front end of the side rail (102A, 102B);
each of the reinforcement (106A, 106B) is joined inside the side rail (102A, 102B);
each of the tyre catcher (108A, 108B) is joined outside of the side rail (102A, 102B) in vicinity to a rear of front wheel;
each of the bulk head (110A, 110B) is joined at the rear end of the side rail (102A, 102B); and
each of the reinforcement brace (112A, 112B) is configured to provide support from inside at a junction formed by the side rail (102A, 102B) and the rear rail (102D), wherein
the frame assembly (100) absorbs impact such that the pair of crush tip (104A, 104B), the pair of reinforcements (106A, 106B), the pair of tire catchers (108A, 108B), and the pair of bulk heads (110A, 110B) mutually absorb the impact energy and avoid bending of the side rails (102A, 102B), and
the reinforcement braces (112A, 112B) provided from inside in the frame (102) act as local stiffener to ensure joint integrity.
2. The frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein crush tip (104A, 104B) has a profile that gradually increases in cross section from front to rear end.
3. The frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the crush tip (104A, 104B) includes a bead configured from a corner of tube to a crumple zone for absorbing impact and to crush the tip.
4. The frame assembly (100) as claimed in claims 1-3, wherein the crush tip (104A, 104B) is made of MERW2-N-380/240 having thickness of 2.4 mm.
5. The frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcement (106A, 106B) is configured by welding inside side rails (102A, 102B).
6. The frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the reinforcement is made of HR GRADE MM14 HSLA460 having thickness of 2.4 mm.
7. The frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tyre catcher (108A, 108B) is configured by welding such that when the vehicle come across impact, a tyre loads on a catcher bracket and absorbs energy through deformation and avoids excess bending of the side rail (102A, 102B).
8. The frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tyre catcher (108A, 108B) is made of HR GRADE MM14 HSLA460 having thickness of 2.6 mm.
9. The frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bulk head (110A, 110B) is welded inside the side rail (102A, 102B) to avoid excess bending of the side rail (102A, 102B).
10. The frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bulk head (110A, 110B) is made of HR GRADE MM14 HSLA460 having thickness of 2.4mm.
11. The frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcement brace (112A, 112B) is configured by welding on the inside surface of the side rail (102A or 102B) and the rear rail (102D) at the junction.
12. The frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the reinforcement brace (112A, 112B) is made of MM13 410 having thickness of 2.6mm.

13. The frame assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, absorbs impact of ODB crash at the speed in a range of 50 KMPH to 70 KMPH, and more particularly at 64 KMPH.