# US 12,594,899 B2 · Structural member for front box with integral fluid line > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,594,899 B2 - Document ID: US12594899B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/086,910 - Filed: 2022-12-22 - Published: 2023-06-29 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-27 - Assignees: Daimler Truck North America LLC - Applicants: Daimler Truck North America, LLC - Inventors: Trevor Takaro; Rajashekar Kalarasaiah; Lokesh Pandey; Umang Patel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12594899B2 ## CPC - B60R 16/08: fluid - B62D 25/08: Front or rear portions {(sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11)} - B62D 21/17: forming fluid or electrical conduit means or having other means to accommodate the transmission of a force or signal - B62D 25/082: {Engine compartments} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 Aspects herein relate to an elongated structural member for use on a front box structure of a vehicle, and a front box structure incorporating the elongated structural member. In some aspects the elongated structural member comprises an elongated rigid frame surrounding an internal space, with a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel within the internal space. The elongated structural has a length, and, in some aspects, the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel extend the length of the structural member and have an open end at each end. In some aspects, the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel are integrally formed with the rigid frame, such as by an extrusion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elongated structural member for use on a front box structure of a vehicle, the elongated structural member comprising: an elongated rigid frame surrounding an internal space; at least a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel within the internal space; wherein the elongated rigid frame comprises an outer wall, the outer wall including a top portion, a bottom portion, an inner side wall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion and an outer side wall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, the top portion, bottom portion, inner side wall and outer side wall forming the internal space, and wherein the elongated rigid frame further comprises a first flange extending upwardly from the top portion and flush with the inner side wall and a second flange extending downwardly from the bottom portion and flush with the inner side wall; and further comprising a first port and a second port, wherein the second port extends through the outer side wall and is fluidly coupled to the first fluid channel or the second fluid channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elongated structural member of claim 1, wherein the elongated rigid frame has a length, and wherein the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel extend the length of the elongated rigid frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The elongated structural member of claim 2, wherein the elongated rigid frame has a first end and a second end, and wherein each of the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel have an open end at both the first end and the second end of the elongated rigid frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The elongated structural member of claim 3, wherein the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel are integrally formed with the elongated rigid frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The elongated structural member of claim 1, wherein the top portion, the bottom portion, the inner side wall and the outer side wall define a rectangular internal space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The elongated structural member of claim 1, further comprising at least a first port extending through the inner side wall and fluidly coupled to one of the first fluid channel or the second fluid channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The elongated structural member of claim 3, wherein the open ends of the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel have a ribbed construction adapted to be coupled to one of a channel cap or a fluid hose. ### Claim 8 An elongated structural member for use on a front box structure of an at least partially electrically powered vehicle, the elongated structural member comprising: an elongated rigid frame surrounding an internal space; a first fluid channel integrated within the internal space; and a second fluid channel integrated within the internal space; wherein the elongated rigid frame comprises an outer wall, the outer wall including a top portion, a bottom portion, an inner side wall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion and an outer side wall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, the top portion, bottom portion, inner side wall and outer side wall forming the internal space, and wherein the elongated rigid frame further comprises a first flange extending upwardly from the top portion and flush with the inner side wall and a second flange extending downwardly from the bottom portion and flush with the inner side wall, the elongated structural member further comprising at least one bracket coupled to one of the first flange and the second flange, the at least one bracket adapted to support at least one component of the at least partially electric vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The elongated structural member of claim 8, wherein the elongated rigid frame has a length, and wherein the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel extend the length of the elongated rigid frame. ### Claim 10 A front box structure for a vehicle, comprising: a first elongated structural member having a rigid frame and at least one integral fluid line; a second elongated structural member having a rigid frame and at least one integral fluid line; a plurality of cross supports extending between and coupled to the first elongated structural member and the second elongated structural member; a plurality of vertical supports coupled to each of the first elongated structural member and the second elongated structural member; and at least one vehicle component supported by at least one of the plurality of vertical supports and extending above or below the vertical supports. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The front box structure of claim 10, wherein the rigid frame of the first elongated structural member and the rigid frame of the second elongated structural member each includes a plurality of ports, each port accessing the integral fluid line of the corresponding elongated structural member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The front box structure of claim 11, wherein the first elongated structural member and the second elongated structural member each include two integral fluid lines. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The front box structure of claim 12, wherein the first elongated structural member and the second elongated structural member each have a length, and wherein the integral fluid lines extend the length of the first and second elongated structural members. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The front box structure of claim 13, wherein each of the fluid lines of the first and second elongated structural members have an open end at each end thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The front box structure of claim 14, wherein at least one of the ports extends inwardly and orthogonally to the length of the first and second elongated structural members and at least one of the ports extends outwardly and orthogonally to the length of the first and second elongated structural members.