The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Patent No.:

US 11072375 B1

Date of Patent:

Jul. 27, 2021

Filed:

Aug. 15, 2019

Control arm with tunable fracture features

Applicants:

Eric a Darin, Royal Oak, MI (US);

Scott E Zilincik, Troy, MI (US);

Michael W Gaduski, Rochester Hills, MI (US);

Amandeep S Gill, Rochester Hills, MI (US);

Tusher M Phule, Auburn Hills, MI (US);

Sara M Goldsworthy, Macomb, MI (US);

Inventors:

Eric A Darin, Royal Oak, MI (US);

Scott E Zilincik, Troy, MI (US);

Michael W Gaduski, Rochester Hills, MI (US);

Amandeep S Gill, Rochester Hills, MI (US);

Tusher M Phule, Auburn Hills, MI (US);

Sara M Goldsworthy, Macomb, MI (US);

Assignee:

FCA US LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (US);

Attorney:

Ralph E Smith

Primary Examiner:

Paul N Dickson

Assistant Examiner:

Daniel M Keck

Int. Cl.

CPC ...

B62D 25/20 (2006.01); B62D 21/05 (2006.01); B62D 21/06 (2006.01); B62D 21/15 (2006.01); B62D 23/00 (2006.01); B60G 7/00 (2006.01); B62D 27/02 (2006.01); B62D 25/14 (2006.01); B62D 25/08 (2006.01);

U.S. Cl.

CPC ...

B62D 25/2045 (2013.01); B60G 7/001 (2013.01); B62D 21/05 (2013.01); B62D 21/06 (2013.01); B62D 21/152 (2013.01); B62D 21/157 (2013.01); B62D 23/005 (2013.01); B62D 27/02 (2013.01); B62D 27/026 (2013.01); B60G 7/005 (2013.01); B60G 2204/1224 (2013.01); B60G 2204/148 (2013.01); B60G 2204/416 (2013.01); B60G 2206/016 (2013.01); B60G 2206/124 (2013.01); B62D 25/081 (2013.01); B62D 25/14 (2013.01);

Abstract

A control arm includes a wheel side end, a body side end, a first connecting member extending between the wheel side end and the body side end, a second connecting member extending between the wheel side end and the body side end, and having a reduced section portion, and a fracture zone extending through the first and second connecting members in a substantially fore-aft direction of the vehicle, the reduced section portion being within the fracture zone. A thickness of the reduced section portion is tunable to establish a controlled fracturing during a small overlap rigid barrier impact event where: (i) an initial fracture of the first connecting member occurs within the fracture zone, and (ii) a secondary fracture of the second connecting member occurs within the fracture zone at the reduced section portion, to thereby provide a desired rearward trajectory of the wheel assembly during the impact event.

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