Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Gregory S Frederick

Phillip A Przybylo

Conrad Michael Kudelko

Xiaowei Li

Saeed David Barbat

Hikmat F Mahmood

Peter John Schuster

Jeffrey Leonard Bladow

Li Chai

Shui-Fang (Ray) Chou

John T Reed

Jeffrey A Anderson

Shui-Fang Chou

Dhafer Mansoor

Lou Ratsos

Frank J Day

Donald Paul Werner

An automobile bumper system including an isolator disposed adjacent a cross beam of an automobile frame, and a bumper edge guard strip mounted adjacent upper and/or lower edges of the cross beam. The bumper edge guard strip may include an upper extension fixedly engaged with an upper surface of the cross beam and a lower extension fixedly engaged with a frontal surface of the cross beam, with the upper extension having a length greater than the lower extension for distributing impact energy in a predetermined manner.

Hybrid energy absorber for automobile bumper

A body side rail construction for an automotive vehicle is formed in a dual cell configuration. A reversed C-shaped channel is welded to the closed section of the conventional roof side rail member to enable the body side rail member to be a smaller section that is less susceptible to buckling as the body side rail member transfers load to the front and rear corner pillars. The C-shaped cross-sectional configuration presents advantages for manufacturing as it can be shaped to provide the attaching brackets and horns for mounting the front header, roof bow, and rear header members to the body side rail without the addition of individual end items to serve this function. From a shipping density standpoint, this design gives maximum structure while maintaining good rack density that enables relatively straight parts to be nested together while still providing the increased section strength required for enhanced roof performance.

Dual cell body side rail for automotive vehicles

An energy-absorbing underrun protection system for a vehicle. The energy-absorbing underrun protection system is comprised of a deformable construction adapted for deforming along a longitudinal axis to absorb crash energy. This deformable construction has a torque arm member extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom for receiving an impact load offset from the longitudinal axis and bending the deformable construction toward the impact load.

Energy-absorbing underrun protection system for a vehicle

An automotive vehicle front structure includes upper and lower siderails and a structural link extending from the upper and lower siderails, with the structural link having a pivotable connection to the upper siderail and a rigid connection to the lower siderail, such that energy absorption provided by the structure may be tailored by varying the character of the joint between the structural link and the upper siderail.

Automotive vehicle front architecture with a partially rotatable structural link

An underbody crash device for a vehicle. The underbody crash device comprises a pillar member attached to the vehicle. The vehicle has a primary load path for absorbing crash energy in a collision. The pillar member is movable to a deployed position for supporting the vehicle directly on the ground and positioning the primary load path to increase crash energy absorbed therein.

Underbody crash device for a vehicle

A bumper system for reducing injury to a pedestrian struck by an automotive vehicle by lessening the likelihood of pedestrian knee joint damage or underbody entrapment while minimizing the point load applied to the lower leg. The bumper assembly includes a bumper beam having a front surface, cushioning material such as energy absorbent high-density foam disposed on the front surface of the bumper beam, and a pedestrian protection leg spoiler secured to the bumper beam and extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom to position the leading edge of the leg spoiler below the cushioning material. The cushioning material absorbs energy of the initial impact with the leg in the vicinity of the knee, and the leg spoiler contacts the leg at a lower position. The leg spoiler has stiffness characteristics such that the impact load applied by the leg to the leading edge causes the leg spoiler to bend rearward in the manner of a cantilever beam. As it bends, the leg spoiler absorbs the impact load until reaching a maximum deflection, whereupon the leg spoiler sweeps the lower leg in the direction of vehicle travel to prevent pedestrian underbody entrapment. The bumper assembly further includes an aerodynamic fascia disposed in front of the leg spoiler to improve the airflow around the bumper assembly. The fascia may also cover the front of the cushioning material and may include a grille.

Pedestrian protection leg spoiler

A bumper system for a motor vehicle includes an energy absorber and a bumper beam connected to the energy absorber and for connection to vehicle structure and having a general B shape. The bumper system also includes a member disposed between the bumper beam and a rail of the motor vehicle to absorb energy during an impact with an object by the bumper system.

Bumper system for motor vehicles

An energy absorbing bumper assembly is provided, including a tube member and a first energy absorbing element positioned within the tube member, including at least one flange portion that absorbs collision energy by deflecting vertically during collision.

Energy absorbing bumper

A bumper system for a motor vehicle includes an energy absorber and a bumper beam interconnecting the energy absorber and vehicle structure and having a general B shape to absorb energy during an impact with an object by the bumper system.

A pedestrian protection apparatus for a truck is provided. The apparatus includes a bumper member mounted to a vehicle, a linkage, a stiffener, an extendible cross-member and an actuator. The extendible cross-member is mounted on a stiffener which in turn is mounted at each end at a first linkage and a second linkage respectively. The pedestrian protection apparatus may extend out from under the vehicle at speeds greater than a predetermined speed in order to prevent injury to a pedestrian in a collision. The linkages are disposed between the extendible cross-member and the bumper.

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Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Gregory S Frederick