Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Gerald F Burke

Troy M Cornell

Mark J Kirschmann

Harjeet Gill

Dennis F Stedman

Erin Marie Shipp

Gregory A Beecher

Hai Gu

Thomas C Booth

Pratap Atchutha Naick

Michael Okuniewicz

James M Culp

Norman Hartmann

Douglas L Nieset

Gary M Slota

Harry Gu

Kenneth J Haller

Nicolaos Tapazoglou

Manfred Staisch

Dave Cottrell

Larry Ososki

A dual-sectioned automotive propeller shaft features a weakened area in a first section. Under an axial load, the first section buckles transversely to a longitudinal axis of the shaft to absorb substantially all of the energy exerted against the shaft. A second section of the shaft is thereby isolated from consequences of the axial load enabling its placement and proximity to other components mounted to the undercarriage of the vehicle.

Energy absorbing propeller shaft system

A method and apparatus for absorbing energy during a frontal collision of a vehicle, through the use of a front frame structure having main frame rails that include several deformable and non-deformable sections which are connected by selectively crushable junctures that are configured to predispose one or more of the junctures and sections to pivot selectively outward, rearward and upward, in a predetermined manner, during the collision. The front frame structure also includes an engine cradle, attached below the main frame rails, and having a pair of side rails that include forward and rear crushable junctures joined by non-deformable intermediate sections, with the crushable junctures of the main frame rails and engine cradle side rails being configured to predispose the intermediate sections of the engine cradle side rails to move downward and rearward during the collision.

Energy absorbing front frame structure for a vehicle

A bracket is provided for assembling an airbag unit and interior vehicle components into a vehicle. The bracket efficiently utilizes the limited interior vehicle space to package all necessary components. To achieve this end, the bracket attaches to a frame member. Within the bracket is a cavity for securely holding an airbag igniter unit. The airbag igniter unit is attached, via a hose, to an airbag. The airbag is partially fit into a recess formed in the bracket. The bracket also maintains a mounting face, to which an interior grab handle can be secured. The bracket allows for the existence of an airbag subassembly which includes, the bracket, an airbag operatively attached to an airbag igniter unit, and an interior grab handle. Such a subassembly will improve overall vehicle assembly efficiency by reducing the amount of steps required in assembly, thus making the assembly process easier.

Grab handle bracket/airbag igniter retainer

Growing community of inventors

Livonia, MI, United States of America

Gerald F Burke