Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Justin E Dominic

Blaine C Benson

Nobuhiro Nakano

Keith O'Brien

Hiroki Ogasawara

Christopher R Cater

Pillar apparatus for use with vehicles are disclosed. A disclosed vehicle includes a roof and a roof side rail including an inner panel that extends along a side of the roof. The vehicle also includes a pillar having an outer panel that extends along the side of the roof and is coupled between the roof and the inner panel. The pillar includes a structural feature positioned on the outer panel. The structural feature is configured to cause the outer panel to form a bend that distributes a first load onto an area of the inner panel to prevent the inner panel from tearing during a first vehicle impact event in which the first load is imparted on the outer panel.

Pillar apparatus for use with vehicles

A gusset assembly of a vehicle that includes a pillar structure that extends in a vehicle vertical direction, a cross member that extends in a vehicle lateral direction, and a gusset positioned between and coupled to the pillar structure and the cross member. The gusset configured to transfer an impact load from the pillar structure to the cross member. The gusset assembly includes a gusset crushbox positioned between the pillar structure and the cross member, with the gusset crushbox disposed within the gusset. The gusset crushbox configured to deform to absorb a portion of the impact load applied to the pillar structure during a side impact and to distribute the impact load from the pillar structure to the cross member.

Gusset assemblies and vehicles including gusset assemblies

A vehicle includes a body that defines a front door opening, and includes an A-pillar framing the front door opening, and a door over the front door opening. The front door includes an inner door panel and an outer door panel defining an interior door cavity therebetween. The vehicle also includes an impact beam and a transfer member housed in the interior door cavity. The impact beam has a forward end that laterally overlaps the A-pillar. The transfer member laterally overlaps the A-pillar in common with the forward end of the impact beam, and faces the inner door panel from laterally between the forward end of the impact beam and the inner door panel. When the vehicle experiences a side impact event, the A-pillar assumes side impact energy via transfer from the forward end of the impact beam through the transfer member.

Structurally reinforced vehicle body

Vehicle engine systems and protectors for such systems are presented. Vehicle engine systems can include one or more engine components associated with an engine. In some embodiments a protector can be attached to an engine system to substantially cover a portion of one or more engine components. The protector can have a shield and a support. In some arrangements, the shield can be operatively connected to two cylinder banks of an engine. The shield can extend over and substantially cover a portion of a fuel line and/or a fuel line connector. In one or more embodiments, the support can include a support end configured to support a vehicle component such as a throttle body.

Protection and support for vehicle engine components

Vehicle engine systems and inserts for such systems are presented. The insert can be positioned between an air intake system and a cylinder bank of an engine. In some arrangements, the insert can be positioned such that a first abutment surface directly contacts portions of a surge tank and a second abutment surface directly contacts portions of a cylinder head cover. The insert can be constructed, positioned, and/or oriented to absorb or transfer forces acting upon the engine system during impacts. For instance, the insert can be arranged such that it extends between the surge tank and the cylinder head cover along an axis that is substantially parallel to a predetermined force direction of a predetermined impact force.

Protection of vehicle engine intake components

Vehicle fluid conduit systems and protectors for such systems are presented. Fluid conduit systems can include a fuel fill system having a fuel filler tube, a re-circulation tube, and a protector. In some embodiments, the protector can include a protector bracket and a bolting plate that extend around the fuel filler tube and re-circulation tube. The protector can include a strap. The strap can extend between the fuel filler tube and re-circulation tube between two or more protector attachment locations.

Protection of vehicle fluid conduits

Vehicle engine systems and load path brackets for such systems are presented. The load path brackets can be positioned between an air intake system and a cylinder bank of an engine. In some embodiments, the load path brackets can be operatively connected to a surge tank at a first end and to a cylinder head cover at a second end. The load path brackets can be constructed, positioned, and/or oriented to absorb or transfer forces acting upon the engine system during impacts. For instance, the load path brackets can be arranged such that a longitudinal axis of a portion of load path bracket is positioned based on a predetermined force direction of a predetermined impact force.

Growing community of inventors

Milan, MI, United States of America

Justin E Dominic