Abstract:
A motor compartment structure for a vehicle includes an intermediate joint welded to a forward region of a cab of the vehicle. Also included is an upper motor compartment rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end mechanically fastened to the intermediate joint.
Abstract:
A flow drill screw includes a shank that extends along a rotation axis. The shank includes a flow drill portion and a thread portion. A head is attached to the shank at a second axial end of the shank, adjacent the thread portion. An attachment portion extends from the head and away from the thread portion, along the rotation axis. The attachment portion may include a T-stud connector, and is operable to attach a device thereto. A drive tool includes an open interior region for receiving the attachment portion therein. The head of the flow drill screw includes an external drive interface, disposed on an exterior surface of the head, radially about the rotation axis, which mates with an internal drive interface of the drive tool, to transmit torque therebetween.
Abstract:
A body structure of a vehicle includes a bulkhead, and a frame rail extending forward from the bulkhead along a longitudinal centerline. A powertrain system is disposed laterally inboard of the frame rail relative to the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail includes a flared section, a splayed section, and a reinforcing member. The flared section curves laterally outboard, away from the longitudinal centerline. The splayed section includes a variable cross sectional area that increases with an increase in distance from the bulkhead. The reinforcing member is operable to increase lateral stiffness in the frame rail, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail is operable to deform into contact with the powertrain system in response to a load applied to a forward end of the body structure and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline, to generate a lateral force in the body structure.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a structural support member for a vehicle includes forming a first portion, forming a second portion, and connecting the first portion and the second portion together. The first portion and the second portion may be formed from one of an aluminum material, a magnesium material, a cold-formable steel material, a glass fiber composite material, or a plastic material. The first portion and the second portion are connected together such that the second portion is disposed in a tensile loading condition in response to an impact load applied to the first portion. A laminate layer is attached to the second portion. The laminate layer includes an ultra high strength material having a yield strength equal to or greater than five hundred fifty (550) MPa. The laminate layer may include, for example, an iron based glassy metal foil or an iron based glassy metal foil fabric.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a structural support member for a vehicle includes forming a first portion, forming a second portion, and connecting the first portion and the second portion together. The first portion and the second portion may be formed from one of an aluminum material, a magnesium material, a cold-formable steel material, a glass fiber composite material, or a plastic material. The first portion and the second portion are connected together such that the second portion is disposed in a tensile loading condition in response to an impact load applied to the first portion. A laminate layer is attached to the second portion. The laminate layer includes an ultra high strength material having a yield strength equal to or greater than five hundred fifty (550) MPa. The laminate layer may include, for example, an iron based glassy metal foil or an iron based glassy metal foil fabric.