Power plant supporting structure of automotive vehicle
First Claim
1. A support structure for a power plant, installed in a front body section of a vehicle, defined by a pair of front side frames disposed on opposite sides of the front body section, a front cross member disposed in front of the power plant and extending between the front side frames, and a rear cross member disposed rearward of the power plant and extending between the front side frames, said support structure comprising:
- a center frame extending, from front to back and in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle, between the front cross member and the rear cross member, said center frame being connected at lengthwise ends thereof to the front cross member and the rear cross member;
front mount means, disposed in front of the power plant and secured to said center frame, for connecting the power plant to the center frame; and
crush pattern control means, at least partly formed by a groove extending transversely in said center frame between the front cross member and the front mount means, for allowing a V-shaped deformation of the center frame between the front cross member and the front mount means so as to absorb an impact exerted thereon and suppress a rearward movement of the power plant upon a front-end collision of the vehicle.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power plant support structure for supporting a power plant of a vehicle includes a center frame extending in a lengthwise direction of the car body. The center frame is connected, at its lengthwise ends, to front and rear cross members, disposed forward and rearward of the power plant and extending between front side frames. A front mount is secured to the center frame before the power plant and connects the power plant to the center frame. The center frame absorbs an impact exerted on the power plant during a front-end collision of the vehicle.
-
Citations
8 Claims
-
1. A support structure for a power plant, installed in a front body section of a vehicle, defined by a pair of front side frames disposed on opposite sides of the front body section, a front cross member disposed in front of the power plant and extending between the front side frames, and a rear cross member disposed rearward of the power plant and extending between the front side frames, said support structure comprising:
-
a center frame extending, from front to back and in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle, between the front cross member and the rear cross member, said center frame being connected at lengthwise ends thereof to the front cross member and the rear cross member; front mount means, disposed in front of the power plant and secured to said center frame, for connecting the power plant to the center frame; and crush pattern control means, at least partly formed by a groove extending transversely in said center frame between the front cross member and the front mount means, for allowing a V-shaped deformation of the center frame between the front cross member and the front mount means so as to absorb an impact exerted thereon and suppress a rearward movement of the power plant upon a front-end collision of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
Specification