| 摘要 |
A chassis 10 for a vehicle has a locally narrower portion 18 within which Is mounted a wheel 20, and a rigid member 28 extending from the chassis 10 toward the quiescent position of the wheel 20 and having a plate 34 spaced from the tyre 24. Under an Impact, the wheel 20 Itself will be crushed against the rigid member 28, absorbing some of the impact energy. The impact energy can also be transmitted via the rigid member 28 to the remainder of the chassis 20, providing a load path to major mass concentrations elsewhere in the vehicle and allowing energy to be dissipated by the deformation of other structures elsewhere. This can then limit frontal damage to the vehicle and hence reduce the risk of Intrusions into the passenger cell. The rigid member can be a column 28 extending towards the wheel ending with a flat plate 34. It preferably extends from a point on the chassis 20 outside the locally narrower portion. Oriented in this direction, the rigid member is more able to transfer the impact forces from the crushing wheel to the remainder of the chassis 20. |
