US-12617469-B2 - Reinforcement assembly for a side sill of a vehicle

Abstract

A reinforcement assembly for a side sill includes a first reinforcement structure arranged inside a cavity of the side sill and including a plurality of first cones arrayed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The reinforcement assembly also includes a second reinforcement structure coupled to the first reinforcement structure and includes a plurality of second cones arranged facing the first cones. Each second cone includes a tray shaped structure having a base and a wall extending in a lateral direction away from the first cone. The wall includes a top wall portion and a bottom wall portion. Further, each second cone includes a first leg extending in the lateral direction from an end of the wall towards the base and connected to the top wall portion, and a second leg connected to the bottom wall portion at a lateral offset from an end of the wall.

Inventors

• Eric J. Boettcher

Assignees

• HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240322

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A reinforcement assembly for a side sill of a vehicle, the reinforcement assembly comprising: a first reinforcement structure adapted to be arranged inside a cavity of the side sill and including a plurality of first cones configured to be arrayed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a second reinforcement structure coupled to the first reinforcement structure and adapted to be arranged inside the cavity, the second reinforcement structure includes a plurality of second cones adapted to be arrayed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and arranged facing the plurality of first cones, each second cone includes a tray shaped structure having a base arranged proximate to the first cone and a wall extending in a lateral direction away from the first cone, the wall includes a top wall portion and a bottom wall portion, a first leg extending in the lateral direction from an end of the wall towards the base and connected to the top wall portion, and a second leg connected to the bottom wall portion at a lateral offset from an end of the wall, wherein the second leg extends in the lateral direction from the bottom wall portion towards the base.
2. 2 . The reinforcement assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first cones is engaged with the first legs and the second legs of the plurality of second cones.
3. 3 . The reinforcement assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first leg and the second leg includes a leg portion extending in the lateral direction and a foot extending in a vertical direction from the leg portion.
4. 4 . The reinforcement assembly of claim 3 , wherein the leg portion of the second leg includes a first leg structure connected to the bottom wall portion and extending in the vertical direction and a second leg structure extending in the lateral direction from the first leg structure.
5. 5 . The reinforcement assembly of claim 1 further comprising a panel extending between the first reinforcement structure and the second reinforcement structure and separating the first reinforcement structure from the second reinforcement structure.
6. 6 . The reinforcement assembly of claim 5 , wherein the panel is engaged with the plurality of first cones and the plurality of second cones.
7. 7 . A side sill for a vehicle, comprising: a first plate and a second plate arranged contacting the first plate and defining a cavity therebetween; a first reinforcement structure arranged inside the cavity of the side sill and including a plurality of first cones adapted to be arrayed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a second reinforcement structure coupled to the first reinforcement structure and arranged inside the cavity, the second reinforcement structure includes a plurality of second cones adapted to be arrayed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and arranged facing the plurality of first cones, each second cone includes a tray shaped structure having a base arranged proximate to the first cone and a wall extending in a lateral direction away from the first cone, the wall includes a top wall portion and a bottom wall portion, a first leg extending in the lateral direction from an end of the wall towards the base and connected to the top wall portion, and a second leg connected to the bottom wall portion at a lateral offset from an end of the wall, wherein the second leg extends in the lateral direction from the bottom wall portion towards the base.
8. 8 . The side sill of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of first cones is engaged with the first legs and the second legs of the plurality of second cones.
9. 9 . The side sill of claim 7 , wherein each of the first leg and the second leg includes a leg portion extending in the lateral direction and a foot extending in a vertical direction from the leg portion.
10. 10 . The side sill of claim 9 , wherein the leg portion of the second leg includes a first leg structure connected to the bottom wall portion and extending in the vertical direction and a second leg structure extending in the lateral direction from the first leg structure.
11. 11 . The side sill of claim 7 further comprising a panel extending between the first reinforcement structure and the second reinforcement structure and separating the first reinforcement structure from the second reinforcement structure.
12. 12 . The side sill of claim 7 , wherein the panel is engaged with the plurality of first cones and the plurality of second cones.
13. 13 . A vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body including a frame; and a side sill coupled to the frame and including a first plate and a second plate arranged contacting the first plate and defining a cavity therebetween, a first reinforcement structure arranged inside the cavity of the side sill and including a plurality of first cones arrayed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a second reinforcement structure coupled to the first reinforcement structure and arranged inside the cavity, the second reinforcement structure includes a plurality of second cones arrayed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and arranged facing the plurality of first cones, each second cone includes a tray shaped structure having a base arranged proximate to the first cone and a wall extending in a lateral direction away from the first cone, the wall includes a top wall portion and a bottom wall portion, a first leg extending in the lateral direction from an end of the wall towards the base and connected to the top wall portion, and a second leg connected to the bottom wall portion at a lateral offset from an end of the wall, wherein the second leg extends in the lateral direction from the bottom wall portion towards the base, wherein the first leg and the second leg are arranged to transfer an impact load to the frame.
14. 14 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of first cones is engaged with the first legs and the second legs of the plurality of second cones.
15. 15 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein each of the first leg and the second leg includes a leg portion extending in the lateral direction and a foot extending in a vertical direction from the leg portion.
16. 16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the leg portion of the second leg includes a first leg structure connected to the bottom wall portion and extending in the vertical direction and a second leg structure extending in the lateral direction from the first leg structure.
17. 17 . The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a panel extending between the first reinforcement structure and the second reinforcement structure and separating the first reinforcement structure from the second reinforcement structure.
18. 18 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the panel is engaged with the plurality of first cones and the plurality of second cones.
19. 19 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of second cones includes a first flange extending vertically upwardly from the wall and a second flange arranged opposite to the first flange and extending vertically downwardly of the wall, wherein the first flange and the second flange are coupled to the second plate.
20. 20 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first leg is aligned with the frame to enable a transfer of the impact load to the frame, and vehicle body defines a connecting structure extending obliquely upwardly from a location proximate to the second leg in the vertical direction to the frame, wherein the impact load is transferred to the frame from the second leg via the connecting structure.

Description

BACKGROUND The disclosed subject matter relates generally to a side sill for a vehicle. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to reinforcement assembly for a side sill of a vehicle. Side sills with energy absorption features are currently used to protect vehicle occupants from side impacts. There is a further need to protect a vehicle battery positioned at a vehicle underbody from side impacts. SUMMARY In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a reinforcement assembly for a side sill of a vehicle is provided. The reinforcement assembly comprises a first reinforcement structure adapted to be arranged inside a cavity of the side sill and including a plurality of first cones arrayed adapted to be arrayed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The reinforcement assembly also includes a second reinforcement structure coupled to the first reinforcement structure and arranged inside the cavity. The second reinforcement structure includes a plurality of second cones adapted to be arrayed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and arranged facing the plurality of first cones. Each second cone includes a tray shaped structure having a base arranged proximate to the first cone and a wall extending in a lateral direction away from the first cone. The wall includes a top wall portion and a bottom wall portion. Further, each second cone includes a first leg extending in the lateral direction from an end of the wall towards the base and connected to the top wall portion, and a second leg connected to the bottom wall portion at a lateral offset from an end of the wall. The second leg extends in the lateral direction from the bottom wall portion towards the base. In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a side sill for a vehicle is provided. The side sill comprises a first plate and a second plate arranged contacting the first plate and defining a cavity therebetween. The side sill also includes a first reinforcement structure arranged inside the cavity of the side sill and including a plurality of first cones adapted to be arrayed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The side sill also includes a second reinforcement structure coupled to the first reinforcement structure and arranged inside the cavity, The second reinforcement structure includes a plurality of second cones configured to be arrayed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and arranged facing the plurality of first cones. Each second cone includes a tray shaped structure having a base arranged proximate to the first cone and a wall extending in a lateral direction away from the first cone. The wall includes a top wall portion and a bottom wall portion. Further, each second cone includes a first leg extending in the lateral direction from an end of the wall towards the base and connected to the top wall portion, and a second leg connected to the bottom wall portion at a lateral offset from an end of the wall. The second leg extends in the lateral direction from the bottom wall portion towards the base. In accordance with yet a further embodiment of the present disclosure a vehicle is provided. The vehicle comprises a vehicle body including a frame, and a side sill coupled to the frame. The side sill includes a first plate and a second plate arranged contacting the first plate and defining a cavity therebetween. The side sill also includes a first reinforcement structure arranged inside the cavity of the side sill and including a plurality of first cones arrayed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Moreover, the side sill includes a second reinforcement structure coupled to the first reinforcement structure and arranged inside the cavity. The second reinforcement structure includes a plurality of second cones arrayed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and arranged facing the plurality of first cones. Each second cone includes a tray shaped structure having a base arranged proximate to the first cone and a wall extending in a lateral direction away from the first cone. The wall includes a top wall portion and a bottom wall portion. Each second cone also includes a first leg extending in the lateral direction from an end of the wall towards the base and connected to the top wall portion, and a second leg connected to the bottom wall portion at a lateral offset from an end of the wall. The second leg extends in the lateral direction from the bottom wall portion towards the base. The first leg and the second leg are arranged to transfer an impact load to the frame. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a side view depicting a vehicle, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the vehicle depicting a side sill of the vehicle having a reinforcement a