Front module for a motor vehicle

• US 8,733,485 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hilmann, Joergen, Niessen, Bert, Linden, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US13/282,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20120104797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.6, 180/232
• US Class Current: 180/68.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/34 destroyed upon impact, e.g. one-shot type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/186 Additional energy absorbing means supported on bumber beams, e.g. cellular structures or material
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/152 Front or rear frames

Abstract

A front module for a motor vehicle includes two longitudinal members arranged one on either side, a bumper sitting in front of the two longitudinal members and connected to front ends of the longitudinal members with the interconnection of a respective deformation element, and a radiator frame arranged between the longitudinal members and supporting the cooling assembly. In a collision, the bumper, after the deformation of the deformation element, comes to bear against the radiator frame, wherein the radiator frame can then be displaced for a limited distance to the rear in the direction of the passenger compartment. After displacement or deformation of the radiator frame, the bumper (1) comes to bear against at least one point of the cooling assembly (5) in order to displace the latter to the rear in the direction of the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. A front module for a motor vehicle comprising:

two longitudinal members arranged one on either side,

a bumper support which sits in front of the two longitudinal members and is connected to respective front ends of the longitudinal members with the interconnection of a respective deformation element,

a radiator frame arranged between the longitudinal members and between the deformation members that supports a cooling assembly, which includes a distributor box, and

one or more contact blocks coupled to the distributor box and aligned with the bumper support,

wherein,

in the event of a collision, the bumper support first of all, in a first deformation stage after the deformation of the deformation element or of the deformation elements, comes to bear against the radiator frame, wherein the radiator frame can then be displaced for a limited distance to the rear in the direction of the passenger compartment, and wherein, after displacement or deformation of the radiator frame in a second stage, the bumper support comes to bear against at least one point of the cooling assembly in order to displace the latter to the rear in the direction of the passenger compartment.

2. The front module as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for the first deformation stage, the displacement distance of the radiator frame (4) is limited by the latter striking against a lower frame part (8).

3. The front module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the radiator frame (4) can be deformed per se.

4. The front module as claimed in one of claim 2, wherein the bumper support (1), upon movement thereof to the rear at the beginning of the second deformation stage, comes to bear against the distributor box (6) of the cooling assembly (5).

5. The front module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the radiator frame is designed so as to arch convexly toward the front side of the vehicle.

6. The front module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the radiator frame is deformable.

7. The front module as claimed in one of claim 6, wherein the bumper support (1), upon movement thereof to the rear at the beginning of the second deformation stage, comes to bear against the distributor box (6) of the cooling assembly (5).

8. The front module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the radiator frame is designed so as to arch convexly toward the front side of the vehicle.

9. The front module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bumper support, upon movement thereof to the rear at the beginning of the second deformation stage, comes to bear against the distributor box (6) of the cooling assembly (5).

10. The front module as claimed in claim 9, wherein, on both sides of the cooling assembly (5), a respective contact block (7) is arranged on the distributor box (6) level with the bumper support (1), against which contact block the bumper support (1) comes to bear at the beginning of the second deformation stage upon displacement of said bumper support to the rear.

11. The front module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the contact block (7) is composed of elastic material.

12. The front module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the radiator frame is designed so as to arch convexly toward the front side of the vehicle.

13. The front module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the radiator frame is designed so as to arch convexly toward the front side of the vehicle.

14. The front module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the radiator frame is designed so as to arch convexly toward the front side of the vehicle.

15. The front module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiator frame is designed so as to arch convexly toward the front side of the vehicle.

16. A front module for a motor vehicle comprising:

two longitudinal members spaced apart from one another;

a respective deformation element coupled to each longitudinal member;

a bumper support coupled to the respective deformation elements;

a radiator frame arranged between the longitudinal members and between the respective deformation elements that supports a cooling assembly having a distributor box; and

one or more contact blocks coupled to the distributor box and aligned with the bumper support.