Arrangement of an engine-transmission unit in an automobile vehicle

Claim 2

In a vehicle having a rigid framework and a front end and rear end : a cradle located adjacent one of said ends, means defining an inclined rigid first face rigidly integral with said framework, said framework and said first face terminating short of said one end to facilitate a crushing of said vehicle at said one end in the event of a violent shock on said one end which has a longitudinal component exceeding a predetermined magnitude, said face facing downwardly and being upwardly inclined from a point intermediate said ends of the vehicle toward said one end of the vehicle, an engine-transmission unit mounted on said cradle so as to be supported by said cradle, said framework and said means defining said rigid first face being more rigid than said cradle whereby upon said violent shock said cradle collapses before said first face and said framework, said unit having means defining a second face which faces upwardly and is in spaced relation to said first face and is capable of coming into contact with and travelling along and being deviated by said first face when said unit is shifted substantially longitudinally of the vehicle in the event of said violent shock on said one end whereby said unit is deviated downwardly of the framework as said unit moves toward the end of the vehicle opposed to said one end.

Claim 3

The structure claimed in claim 1, wherein said engine of said unit has a crank case and said means defining said second face is part of said crank case.

Claim 4

The structure claimed in claim 1, wherein said engine of said unit has a cylinder block and said means defining said second face is part of said cylinder block.

Claim 5

In a vehicle having a rigid framework and a front end and a rear end : a cradle located adjacent one of said ends, a first lateral longitudinally extending extension and a second lateral longitudinally extending extension both extensions being rigidly integral with said framework, said framework and said extensions terminating short of said one end to facilitate a crushing of said vehicle at said one end in the event of a violent shock on said one end which has a longitudinal component exceeding a predetermined magnitude, each extension defining a first face which faces downwardly and is upwardly inclined from a point intermediate said vehicle ends toward said one end of the vehicle, an engine-transmission unit mounted on said cradle so as to be supported by said cradle, said framework and said extensions being more rigid than said cradle whereby upon said violent shock said cradle collapses before said extensions and said framework, said unit comprising first lateral rigid means defining an upper face and second lateral rigid means defining an upper face, said upper faces being respectively in spaced relation to said first faces and capable of coming into contact with the travelling along and being deviated by said first faces when said unit is shifted substantially longitudinally of the vehicle in the event of said violent shock on said one end whereby said unit is deviated downwardly of the extensions and framework as said unit moves toward the end of the vehicle opposed to said one end.

Claim 6

In a vehicle having a rigid framework and a front end and a rear end : a cradle located adjacent one of said ends, a first lateral longitudinally extending extension and a second lateral longitudinally extending extension both extensions being rigidly integral with said framework, said framework and said extensions terminating short of said one end to facilitate a crushing of said vehicle at said one end in the event of a violent shock on said one end which has a longitudinal component exceeding a predetermined magnitude, each extension defining a first face which faces downwardly and is upwardly inclined from a point intermediate said vehicle ends toward said one end of the vehicle, an engine-transmission unit mounted on said cradle so as to be supported by said cradle, said framework and said extensions being more rigid than said cradle whereby upon said violent shock said cradle collapses before said extensions and said framework, said unit comprising first lateral rigid means defining an upper face and second lateral rigid means defining an upper face, said upper faces being respectively in spaced relation to said first faces and capable of coming into contact with the travelling along and being deviated by said first faces when said unit is shifted substantially longitudinally of the vehicle in the event of said violent shock on said one end whereby said unit is deviated downwardly of the extensions and framework as said unit moves toward the end of the vehicle opposed to said one end.

Claim 7

The structure claimed in claim 4, wherein said first and second means defining said upper faces comprise projecting portions which extend transversely from said unit, said upper faces being convex.

Claim 8

An automobile vehicle having a front end and a rear end and comprising in combination : a body, a rigid framework supporting said body, a cradle located adjacent one of said ends, means defining an inclined rigid first face rigidly integral with said framework, said framework and said first face terminating short of said one end to facilitatE a crushing of said vehicle at said one end in the event of a violent shock on said one end which has a longitudinal component exceeding a predetermined magnitude, said face facing downwardly and being upwardly inclined from a point intermediate said vehicle ends toward said one end of the vehicle, an engine-transmission unit mounted on said cradle so as to be supported by said cradle, said framework and said means defining said rigid first face being more rigid than said cradle whereby upon said violent shock said cracle collapses before said first face and said framework, said unit having means defining a second face which faces upwardly and is in spaced relation to said first face and is capable of coming into contact with and travelling along and being deviated by said first face when said unit is shifted substantially longitudinally of the vehicle in the event of said violent shock on said one end whereby said unit is deviated downwardly of the framework as said unit moves toward the end of the vehicle opposed to said one end.

Claim 9

An automobile vehicle having a front end and a rear end and comprising in combination : a body, a rigid framework supporting said body, a cradle located adjacent one of said ends, means defining an inclined rigid first face rigidly integral with said framework, said framework and said first face terminating short of said one end to facilitatE a crushing of said vehicle at said one end in the event of a violent shock on said one end which has a longitudinal component exceeding a predetermined magnitude, said face facing downwardly and being upwardly inclined from a point intermediate said vehicle ends toward said one end of the vehicle, an engine-transmission unit mounted on said cradle so as to be supported by said cradle, said framework and said means defining said rigid first face being more rigid than said cradle whereby upon said violent shock said cracle collapses before said first face and said framework, said unit having means defining a second face which faces upwardly and is in spaced relation to said first face and is capable of coming into contact with and travelling along and being deviated by said first face when said unit is shifted substantially longitudinally of the vehicle in the event of said violent shock on said one end whereby said unit is deviated downwardly of the framework as said unit moves toward the end of the vehicle opposed to said one end.