DUAL A-PILLAR FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

• US 20190100247A1
• Filed: 09/29/2017
• Published: 04/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: NUSIER, Saied, BACCOUCHE, Mohamed Ridha, BARBAT, Saeed David, BELWAFA, Jamel E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,300,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/005 Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles , e.g. dismountable auxiliary seatsB60N2/02 takes precedence ; for railway vehicles B61D1/04
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/04 Door pillars ; windshield pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 27/02 rigid
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00

Abstract

A vehicle is provided. The vehicle may include a first A-pillar, spanning between a roof rail and shotgun, and a frame assembly. The first A-pillar may carry a windshield. The frame assembly may include a second A-pillar, spanning between the roof rail and a hinge pillar, and a C-pillar. The frame assembly may define a side ingress/egress opening of a cabin having a rearward-facing front seat. The opening may span between the second A-pillar and C-pillar without a B-pillar.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a first A-pillar spanning between a roof rail and shotgun, and carrying a windshield;

a second A-pillar, spanning between the roof rail and a hinge pillar, and a C-pillar, the frame assembly defining a side ingress/egress opening spanning between the second A-pillar and C-pillar; and

an upper connection bracket including a first concaved flange portion attached to the first A-pillar and a second concaved flange portion attached to the second A-pillar.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein an angle between the first A-pillar and a horizontal plane defined by a top of the hinge pillar is less than an angle between the second A-pillar and the plane.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first A-pillar, second A-pillar, hinge pillar, shotgun, and a shotgun attachment bracket define a closed structural truss.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second A-pillar is mounted to the first A-pillar.

6. The vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a lower connection bracket attached to the second A-pillar and the hinge pillar.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a cabin and wherein the cabin further includes a forward-facing rear seat.

5. (canceled)

7. -11. (canceled)

13. A vehicle comprising:

a first A-pillar spanning between a roof rail and a front support member, and carrying a windshield;

a frame assembly including a second A-pillar, spanning between the roof rail and a hinge pillar, and a C-pillar, the frame assembly defining a side ingress/egress opening of a cabin having a rearward-facing front seat, and the opening spanning between the second A-pillar and C-pillar without a B-pillar; and

an upper connection bracket wherein the upper connection bracket includes a first concaved flange portion attached to the first A-pillar, and a second concaved flange portion connected to the second A-pillar.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein an angle between the first A-pillar and a horizontal plane defined by a top of the hinge pillar is less than an angle between the second A-pillar and the plane.

15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first A-pillar, second A-pillar, hinge pillar, front support member, and a shotgun attachment bracket define a closed structural truss.

16. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the second A-pillar is mounted to the first A-pillar.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising a lower connection bracket attached to the second A-pillar and the hinge pillar.

17. (canceled)