Deformable Cross-Car Beam for Side Impact Protection

Abstract

Systems and methods that facilitate vehicle passenger protection during side impact events and, more particularly, to systems and methods which increase the survival space between the vehicle side structure and a vehicle passenger located in the vehicle passenger compartment while maintaining reasonable vehicle structure deceleration levels. The systems and methods enable the seat structure assemblies to move inboard during side impact events by coupling the seat structure assemblies to a deformable cross bar or beam. The embodiments include a deformable cross-car beam that is deformable in one or more locations along its length using changes in geometry and/or changes in material to initiate controlled deformation under a cross-car load due to a side impact event.

1 . A deformable cross-car beam for vehicle side impact protection, comprising
 an elongate body couplable at its first and second ends to side structures of a vehicle passenger compartment, and   one or more deformable regions located along the length of the body, the one or more deformable regions being deformable under axial loads sustainable by other regions of the body without deformation.   
     
     
         2 . The beam of  claim 1  wherein the one or more deformable regions comprise a change in geometry along the length of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The beam of  claim 2  wherein the change in geometry comprises a bead oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The beam of  claim 3  wherein the bead comprises a groove. 
     
     
         5 . The beam of  claim 1  wherein the body has a C shape profile. 
     
     
         6 . The beam of  claim 1  wherein the body has a hat shape profile. 
     
     
         7 . The beam of  claim 1  wherein the one or more deformable regions comprise first and second beads formed in the body on opposing sides of a longitudinal mid-plane of the body, wherein the first and second beads a positioned closer to the longitudinal mid-plane than seat assembly connection points along the length of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The beam of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises
 first and second side portions couplable at a first end to vehicle side structures, and 
 a center portion couplable to a second end of the first and second side portions and co-extensively extending between the first and second side portions, wherein the center portion is deformable under an axial load that is sustainable by the first and second side portions without deformation. 
 
     
     
         9 . The beam of  claim 8  further comprising first and second flanges coupled to the first end of the first and second side portions and adapted to couple the beam to side structures of a vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The beam of  claim 1  further comprising first and second brackets adapted to couple the beam to a floor pan of a vehicle and restrict vertical motion of the beam relative to the floor pan. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle comprising
 a body understructure including first and second side rails,   first and second side structures extending upwardly from the understructure on opposing sides of the understructure, and   a cross beam coupled to and extending between the first and second side structures, the cross beam includes a configuration to deform axially inwardly in response to a crash force applied to the first or second side structures.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11  wherein the cross beam includes a central crush zone. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 11  wherein the cross beam includes first and second side portions and a central portion extending between the first and second side portions, wherein the central portion is deformable under an axial load that is sustainable by the first and second side portions without deformation. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 13  further comprising first and second brackets coupled to the cross beam to a floor pan coupled to the side rails and adapted to restrict upward motion of the cross beam relative to the floor pan while allowing lateral motion of the cross beam. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 11  wherein the cross beam includes an elongate body have one or more deformable regions being deformable under axial loads sustainable by other regions of the body without deformation. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 15  wherein the one or more deformable regions comprise a change in geometry or material along the length of the body. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 16  wherein the change in geometry comprises a bead oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body.