CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present disclosure claims the benefit of priority of co-pending European Patent Application No. 19166462.2, filed on Apr. 1, 2019, and entitled “ONE PIECE LOAD DISTRIBUTION DEVICE,” the contents of which are incorporated in full by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a load distribution device for a vehicle configured to distribute loads in the event of a collision.

BACKGROUND

Conventional bumpers mounted at the front and rear of vehicles function to withstand at least minor impacts. The bumpers are often attached to the lower frame beam rails of the vehicle and are configured to absorb the impact energy for protection of the self-vehicle and its passengers. The conventional bumpers often include energy absorbing beams that are configured to deform in the event of a crash impact.

In a frontal collision the bumper and other energy absorbing parts of the so-called crumple zone of the vehicle absorb a portion of the energy from the impact. This may protect the self-vehicle but does not traditionally take into account the safety of the opposing vehicle in the impact. In other words, the functionality of conventional bumper systems is first and foremost intended to protect the self-vehicle.

More recently, focus has been shifted to concern also the opposing vehicle in the impact. This is particularly important when a lighter vehicle collides with a heavier vehicle. As can be understood from the principle of conservation of momentum, the lighter of the two vehicles has to withstand a higher load than the heavier vehicle.

Accordingly, there is a desire to better distribute the load in a head on collision between two vehicles.

SUMMARY

Upcoming legislation (issued by the European new car assessment programme) in Europe requires vehicles to be tested for a new test case which relates to impact with a so-called moving progressive deformable barrier, for example another vehicle. The inventors realized that one way to provide a satisfactory solution for handling the new test case is to provide a relatively stiff load distribution device that covers a relatively large area of the vehicle front to thereby distribute loads more evenly into the opposing barrier, e.g. the opposing vehicle.

Accordingly, the disclosed subject matter generally relates to a load distribution device which is adapted to distribute the load from an impact more evenly into the lighter partner vehicle colliding with the self-vehicle. Further, with the proposed load distribution device the crumple zone of the self-vehicle is able to absorb more energy rather than that the lighter vehicle absorbs the most energy.

The proposed load distribution device provides the above advantage at least partly by being made in single piece that is connectable to at least one upper load path and arrangeable at least one lower load path of the vehicle. Advantageously, the load distribution device thereby connects upper and lower load paths of the vehicle structure in the event of a collision such that the impact load is distributed over a relatively large area, and into both the upper load path and the lower load path into the vehicle structure.

That the load distribution device is made in a single piece provides improved structural integrity compared to a multiple piece device. Thus, the single piece load distribution device can better withstand the high forces developed in a crash, which also enables the load distribution device to better distribute the loads.

Furthermore, for improved distribution of loads in the transverse direction, the load distribution device comprises an upper beam and a lower beam connectable to a respective upper and lower load path of the vehicle.

The interconnecting portion advantageously connects the upper beam and the lower beam, which thereby provides for connecting the upper and lower load paths to each other. As is understood, the interconnecting portion is made from the same stiff material as the upper beam and the lower beam.

Although embodiments of the present disclosure describes that the lower beam is arrangeable at the lower load path, it is also possible for the lower beam to be connectable to the at least one lower load path according to embodiments. This ensures a firm attachment of the load attachment device to the vehicle when mounted.

To be able to connect the upper and lower load paths to each other the size of the load distribution device is larger than prior single piece devices such as prior art bumper or similar devices.

The size of the load distribution device may, according to some embodiments be such that a through-hole is needed for allowing cooling air to reach behind the load distribution device. The cooling air may be directed to any known devices in need of cooling, such as a radiator, a battery, etc. The through-hole is made in the interconnecting portion.

Preferably, the through-hole is located between the upper beam and the lower beam.

In embodiments, the interconnecting portion is plate shaped, and is connected to the upper beam and the lower beam at front walls of the upper beam and the lower beam. This advantageously provides for a relatively planar front side of the load distribution device.

In some embodiments the upper beam is connectable to at least one upper crash absorbing member and the lower beam is connectable or arrangeable at at least one lower crash absorbing member. Thus, the load distribution devices may be able to connect the crash absorbing members to each other at least in the event of a collision which thereby improves the load absorption the load by means of the interconnected upper and lower crash absorbing members.

In embodiments, the at least one upper crash absorbing member is attached to the vehicle chassis and the least one lower crash absorbing member is attached to a subframe or other chassis structure components of the vehicle. This provides an efficient transfer of the load into both the upper load path and the lower load path.

Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled person realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

