Motor vehicle forward structure having a knee restraint with defined yielding capability
US5752718A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 19, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62D27/065
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A forward structure of a motor vehicle has a cross member which connects the two A-columns with one another and which is used for fixing a steering column and a knee restraint. A strut is fixed on the forward structure and extends from the cross member to a transmission tunnel extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. At least two mutually overlapping strut sections of the strut have a connection area which, under a load during a crash and after overcoming a force threshold, can be elongated in a longitudinal direction while absorbing energy. A force limiting device is provided in the connection area of the strut sections in the force transmission path. Consequently, after the force threshold is exceeded, an energy reduction is achieved during a predetermined lengthening path of the connecting strut and at a constant force level so that a yielding of the impact-loaded knee restraint together with the cross member takes place with a force-limited resistance along a predetermined path distance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.