Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Volvo Car Corporation

Mikael Bostrom

Gunnar Lassl

Mikael Fermer

Rashad Kadhim

Christian Holmèr

Manoj Prabahar

Stefan Carlholmer

A method of assembling a plurality of body structures for forming a vehicle assembly comprising the body structures, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of body structures to be assembled, at least one of the body structures having a deformation region; acquiring information indicating a vehicle assembly type to be formed; mating at least one body structure with another body structure to form the vehicle assembly; and performing a deformation region treatment on at least one deformation region of at least one body structure of the vehicle assembly to form at least one deformable region based on the information indicating vehicle assembly type.

Method for forming a vehicle assembly

There is described an impact force coupling assembly operable to couple impact forces from an upright member of a road vehicle to a horizontal transverse member thereof during an impact event. The assembly has a first region and a second region, and is operable to be impinged or captured between the members during the impact event. The assembly includes cavities including dividing walls therebetween, the dividing walls extending along the assembly in a direction from the first region to the second region. Capture of the assembly during the impact event is affected by intrusive deformation of the side walls at the regions of the assembly by portions of the transverse member and the upright member. The coupling assembly is preferably fabricated as a unitary extruded aluminum component. The upright member and the transverse member are preferably a heel-kick and a B-pillar respectively of the vehicle.

Impact force coupling assembly

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Angered, Sweden

Mikael Bostrom