IMPACT ENERGY ABSORBING STRUCTURE FOR F-F TYPE MOTOR VEHICLE

摘要

Side members which extend along each side of an engine compartment are designed and arranged so that they will buckle out sideways during a frontal collision to absorb initial impact energy. This prevents the engine from being pulled upwardly in the vehicle and allows same to be driven rearwardly to stagewisely crush structual panels to absorb further impact energy. The movement of the engine directly rearwardly also allows for the cross member/side sill chassis construction to receive and dissipate the energy not absorbed through panel deformation. Accordingly, the forward bulkhead is not directly deformed by the engine which would otherwise occur if the engine were forced upwardly by the impact.