Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Keith J Saari

Robert N Saje

Peter M Parlow

Edward D Moss

Mark J McGuire

Robert M Kielbik

John R Sulik, Ii

Joshua Holder

Daniel K Davis

Artur Wyszynski

Giles D Bryer

Terry A Swartzell

John C Johnson

Warren J Parsons

Paul J Wolcott

Tadge J Juechter

Mark T Dingman

Vikas V Joshi

Eduardo Barjud Bugelli

John J Jackson

Jack E Brown

Martin G Foulkes

William P Ciaramitaro

Michael W Davenport

Katelyn Marie McCracken

Jean-Michel Steinmetz

Jagmail Singh Cheema

Patrick Alfred Walch

Francis J Malek

Marty F Hull

A vehicle underbody includes a system of connected unitized underbody components including a front quadrant system having a left front unitized underbody component and a right front unitized underbody component, a center system, and a rear quadrant system having a left rear unitized underbody component and a right rear unitized underbody component. A first rail element is loosely connected to the left front unitized underbody component and the left rear unitized underbody component, and a second rail element is loosely connected to the right front unitized underbody component and the right rear unitized underbody component.

Vehicle body structure formed from a system of interconnected unitized body structure components and method of forming a vehicle body structure

A side impact load management system for a vehicle having a vehicle frame includes a plurality of cross-vehicle support members extending from a first side of the vehicle to a second side of the vehicle. A first structural member extends in a first vertical plane parallel to a vehicle body axis defined by the vehicle frame and coupled to the vehicle frame, the first structural member connecting the plurality of cross-vehicle support members on the first side of the vehicle. A second structural member extends in a second vertical plane parallel to the vehicle body axis defined by the vehicle frame and coupled to the vehicle frame, the second structural member connecting the plurality of cross-vehicle support members on the second side of the vehicle. The first and second structural members are configured to transfer a side impact load simultaneously to the plurality of cross-vehicle support members.

Vehicle structure for side impact load path management

A system for providing multiple variations of shock tower assemblies with a common vehicle body is provided. The system includes the common vehicle body including a vehicle body member comprising a plurality of bolt holes and a shock tower assembly. The shock tower assembly includes a bolt-on shock tower cap comprising a shock receiving cavity, a plurality of bolt fasteners attaching the bolt-on shock tower cap to the vehicle body member at the plurality of bolt holes, and shock tower components including a shock device. The shock tower components are configured to matingly engage with the shock receiving cavity.

Bolted casting to casting flexible body variant shock tower system

A system for providing structural transmittal of force through a vehicle body of a mid-engine vehicle is provided. The system includes an elongated single member torsional box spanning a passenger compartment from a vehicle-forward portion of the passenger compartment to a vehicle-rearward portion of the passenger compartment, parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, and laterally centered upon a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body. The system further includes four rails in a vehicle-forward position relative to the elongated single member torsional box, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, and offset from the elongated single member torsional box. The system further includes four diagonal support members, each diagonal support member being connected at a first end to one of the four rails and at a second end to the elongated single member torsional box.

Close coupled four rail front structure system transferring compressive loads into a single center torsion/compression member

A bulkhead for a vehicle body structure includes a panel. The panel has a contour defined by a contour length and characterized by an open section having three surfaces in a cross-sectional view. The bulkhead also includes a support member embedded in the panel. The support member includes an external form configured to interface with and match at least two of the three surfaces of the contour. The support member also includes a support member length configured to fit within the contour length and a boxed cross-section having a substantially uniform shape along the support member length. The bulkhead additionally includes an adhesive applied between the external form of the support member and the interfacing surfaces of the contour to thereby bond the support member to the panel and reinforce the bulkhead. A vehicle having a structure with such a bulkhead is also considered.

Reinforced open-section structural panel

A system for providing structural transmittal of force through a vehicle body of a mid-engine vehicle is provided. The system includes an elongated single member torsional box spanning a passenger compartment. The system further includes two vehicle body side members spanning an outer lateral edge of the passenger compartment. The system further includes four rails parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body. The system further includes four inner diagonal support members, each inner diagonal support member being connected at a first end to one of the four rails and on the second end to the elongated single member torsional box and being configured to transmit force from the one of the four rails to the single member torsional box. The system further includes four outer diagonal support members, each outer diagonal support member being configured to transmit force to one of the vehicle body side members.

Four rail front crush structure with load dissemination into eight element support structure

A method of manufacturing a structural support member, the method includes providing a donor casting, separating the donor casting into at least a first segment and a second segment, providing a mold, disposing the first and second segments into the mold, pouring a liquid metal alloy into the mold. recovering and cleaning a solidified structural support member from the mold, and performing an operation for achieving a mechanical lock feature between the first and second segments and the solidified metal alloy.

Method of manufacturing structural components

An interlocking body and floor pan assembly for a below-floor energy stored vehicle includes a vehicle structural assembly having a front compartment section connected to a rear compartment section using first and second rocker members. The front compartment section includes a compartment front cross-beam and the rear compartment section includes a compartment rear cross-beam oriented parallel to the compartment front cross-beam. The vehicle structural assembly defines a bucket configuration having faces of the compartment front cross-beam and the compartment rear cross-beam angularly oriented from an upper outboard edge downwardly pitching to a lower inboard edge. A prefabricated sub-floor assembly seats on flange structure and is positioned with a clearance to the bucket configuration of the vehicle structural assembly. An outer perimeter of the sub-floor assembly is larger than an inner perimeter of the vehicle structural assembly where the sub-floor assembly contacts the vehicle structural assembly.

Interlocking body and floor pan assembly for below floor energy stored vehicles

A torque box includes a box body extending along a longitudinal axis and a reaction wall coupled to the box body. The reaction wall is obliquely angled relative to the longitudinal axis to receive an offset load. The torque box further includes a plurality of ribs coupled to the reaction wall. Each of the plurality of ribs is oriented perpendicularly to the reaction wall to resist the offset frontal load received by the reaction wall. The torque box also includes a bridge rail coupled to the box body. The bridge rail is configured to allow load transfer between the frame rail and the rocker panel. At least a portion of the bridge rail is obliquely angled relative to the longitudinal axis.

Multi-layered load path torque box

A product comprising a mixed material longitudinal rail system for a vehicle and a method of making the same.

Outward splayed mixed material longitudinal rail system

A number of variations may include a center tunnel assembly which may include a series of truss structures.

Center tunnel integrated truss architecture

A number of variations may include a casting having a raised integrated cast grounding block with tunable surfaces for routing an electrical grounding wire/strap via an eyelet and an anti-rotational tab attachment.

Tunable cast grounding block for dry sections

A hinge pillar assembly includes a hinge pillar panel that is cast from a die casting process, and that defines an interior surface. An acoustic foam layer is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the hinge pillar panel. An inner retainer panel is attached to the hinge pillar panel. The inner retainer panel secures the acoustic foam layer between the inner retainer panel and the hinge pillar panel. The hinge pillar assembly is cast to define a cored boss that is used to retain the hinge pillar panel within an upper ejector half of a die set during the casting process. A fastener is disposed in the threaded engagement with the cored boss to attach the inner retainer panel to the hinge pillar panel. A vehicle component may be attached to the inner retainer panel.

Growing community of inventors

Macomb Township, MI, United States of America

Keith J Saari