# US 10,308,285 B2 · Vehicle frame assembly

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- Number: US 10,308,285 B2
- Document ID: US10308285B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/651,502
- Filed: 2017-07-17
- Published: 2017-11-02
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-01-08
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Adam J. Rompage; Edward W. Bach; Kurtis Ray Horner; Aron K. Madsen; Anthony Ordonio, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308285B2

## CPC

- B62D 21/15: having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body (bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F)
- B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars}
- B62D 25/08: Front or rear portions {(sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11)}
- B62D 27/023: {Assembly of structural joints}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A vehicle frame assembly includes a structural pillar defined by a first structural node, a second structural node, an upper outer member and an upper inner member spaced laterally from the upper outer member. The upper outer member extends substantially vertically between the first and second structural nodes and has first and second end portions connected to the respective first and second structural nodes. The upper inner member is angled laterally inwardly relative to the upper outer member and has a first end portion connected to the first structural node. The first and second structural nodes together with the upper outer and inner members define a first triangular load distribution path for the vehicle frame assembly which is adapted to distribute a roof crush load from the first structural node to the upper outer and inner members.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle frame assembly comprising:
a first structural node;
a second structural node;
a longitudinally extending roof side rail having an end portion connected to the first structural node;
a laterally extending rear roof rail having an end portion connected to the first structural node;
a laterally extending rear cabin panel connected to the second structural node;
an upper outer member extending substantially vertically between the first and second structural nodes and having first and second end portions connected to the respective first and second structural nodes;
an upper inner member spaced laterally from the upper outer member and having a first end portion connected to the first structural node and a second end portion connected to the rear cabin panel;
a longitudinally extending rear quarter upper rail having a first end portion connected the first structural node and a second end portion; and
a longitudinally extending rear quarter lower rail having a first end portion connected to the second structural node and a second end portion connected to the second end portion of the rear quarter upper rail,
wherein the first and second structural nodes together with the upper outer and inner members define a structural pillar, and the structural pillar defines a first triangular load distribution path for the vehicle frame assembly which is adapted to distribute a roof crush load from the first structural node to the upper outer and inner members, and
wherein the first and second structural nodes together with the upper outer member and the rear quarter upper and lower rails together define a second triangular load distribution path for the vehicle frame assembly which is adapted to distribute the roof crush load from the first structural node to the rear quarter upper and lower rails.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the first triangular load distribution path is substantially vertically and laterally oriented, and the second triangular load path is substantially vertically and longitudinally oriented.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper inner member is angled laterally inwardly relative to the upper outer member, and the rear quarter upper rail is angled downwardly relative to the upper outer member toward the rear quarter lower rail.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the roof side rail is substantially aligned with the rear quarter upper rail, and together with the rear quarter upper rail and the first structural node defines a substantially continuous main upper side rail structure.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1, wherein an upper cabin ring is defined by the rear roof rail, the first structural node, the upper outer member, the second structural node and the rear cabin panel, the upper cabin ring configured to provide lateral rigidity of the vehicle frame assembly, the first triangular load distribution path being confined within the upper cabin ring and adapted to increase stiffness of the upper cabin ring.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the second triangular load distribution path is adapted to distribute a rear damper load applied at the respective second end portions rear quarter upper and lower rails through the rear quarter upper and lower rails and into the first and second structural nodes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The vehicle frame assembly of claim 6, wherein the first triangular load distribution path is adapted to at least partially absorb the rear damper load thereby preventing lateral movement of the rear quarter upper and lower rails.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the roof side rail is a unitary, one-piece tubular structural member formed of a first material, and each of the rear roof rail, the upper outer member, the upper inner member, the rear quarter upper rail, and the rear quarter lower rail is a unitary, one-piece tubular structural member formed of a second material different than the first material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The vehicle frame assembly of claim 8, wherein each of the rear roof rail, the rear cabin panel, the first structural node and the second structural node is formed of the second material different than the first material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural pillar and the rear cabin panel are configured to stabilize the upper outer and inner members from the roof crush load.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper inner member gussets the first structural node to prevent lateral movement of the vehicle frame assembly.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The vehicle frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper outer member and the upper inner member are configured to support the connection between each of the roof side rail and the rear quarter upper rail with the first structural node.