Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Kenneth J Haller

Harjeet Gill

Troy M Cornell

Erin Marie Shipp

Gregory A Beecher

Mark J Kirschmann

Gerald F Burke

Pratap Atchutha Naick

Michael Okuniewicz

Manfred Staisch

Dave Cottrell

Larry Ososki

Norman Hartmann

Harry Gu

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

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Davisburg, MI, United States of America

Kenneth J Haller