Magna International Inc.

Shrikanth Gujjal

Sunny Kharbanda

Joseph Matthew Yaldo

Jeffrey Jay Mellis

Kevin Richard Langworthy

Ryan Robert Warpup

Amar Rajendra Jadhav

John J Caito

Joseph Yaldo

A frame assembly for an automobile includes a pair of front frame rails disposed in spaced relationship with a pair of rear frame rails. An upper cover is connected to and extends between the pair of front frame rails and the pair of rear frame rails to define a roof portion. The upper cover includes a pair of longitudinal sidewalls and a pair of cross sidewalls each extending downwardly from the roof portion to define an upper pocket bounded by each of the roof portion, the pair of longitudinal sidewalls and the pair of cross sidewalls. A base plate includes a plate portion for supporting at least one battery module. The base plate is disposed in abutting and connected relationship with the upper cover to dispose the at least one battery module within the upper pocket.

Frame assembly and integral battery structure

A frame assembly for an automobile and method of assembling same. The frame assembly includes a battery housing at least partially integral with an automobile frame. The frame includes longitudinal beams that extend between front frame rails and rear frame rails. The battery housing includes two portions, a upper cover integrated with the longitudinal beams and a base plate that connects to the upper cover or the longitudinal beams with a releasable connection. The base plate includes a connection flange that includes at least one seal. When connected, at least one battery module is enclosed in the battery housing.

A bumper beam includes an outer portion and an inner portion each extending between a top end and a bottom end. At least one of the outer portion or the inner portion includes a pair of geometrical features each of which are disposed in spaced relationship to one another and adjacent a respective one of the top or bottom ends. A top wall and a bottom wall each extend from one of the geometrical features to the other of the outer portion or the inner portion to interconnect the outer and inner portions of the bumper beam. The geometrical features can be varied in size and shape to change and tune the energy absorption properties of the bumper beam and ultimately provide for a bumper beam that is adaptable and flexible over a range of vehicle applications.

Bumper beam

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Shrikanth Gujjal