US 11,787,476 B2
Motor vehicle provided with a release system to detach a crossbar in the engine compartment in the event of a frontal collision
Daniele Ghislieri, Turin (IT); Giuseppe Antonio Soddu, Turin (IT); Alessandro Messina, Turin (IT); Fabrizio Pastore, Turin (IT); and Dario Viggiano, Turin (IT)
Assigned to FCA ITALY S.p.A., Turin (IT)
Filed by FCA ITALY S.p.A., Turin (IT)
Filed on Mar. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/211,167.
Claims priority of application No. 20165689 (EP), filed on Mar. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0300474 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. B62D 21/15 (2006.01); B62D 25/08 (2006.01); B62D 27/06 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 21/155 (2013.01) [B62D 25/082 (2013.01); B62D 27/065 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A motor vehicle comprising:
a passenger compartment;
two side members comprising respective rear portions arranged longitudinally at said passenger compartment and respective struts, which project forward of said passenger compartment;
a crossbar with front attachment portions and rear attachment portions;
connecting devices, which fix said front and rear attachment portions to said side members in such a way as to keep said crossbar suspended in relation to said struts, and comprise at least one weakened zone designed to cause at least part of the crossbar to detach from the side members when a given load threshold is exceeded;
wherein at least one of said connecting devices comprises:
a first wall having a first hole and forming part of said front or rear attachment portions;
a second wall having a second hole and forming part of said side members;
a bolt that comprises a threaded stem through said first and second hole and that is tightened to lock said first wall against said second wall;
wherein said weakened zone comprises at least one slot cut in said first wall from an edge of said first hole;
wherein said at least one slot comprises an end zone defining a widening in relation to a remaining part of said at least one slot, said remaining part joining said end zone to said first hole;
wherein said remaining part has a width, in a circumferential direction, that is smaller than the diameter of said threaded stem and said second wall is stiffer than said first wall so that, when said given load threshold is exceeded, said bolt is pulled by said second wall, deforms two rear flaps of said first wall and slips out of a rear zone of said first hole.