Vehicle frame and corresponding joint structure

A joint structure for a vehicle frame comprising:

• a first structural tube having first and second panels opposing each other, and having third and fourth panels opposing each other;
• a second structural tube extending through the first panel and the second panel, wherein the second structural tube has fifth and sixth panels opposing each other;
• and
• a pin secured to the first structural tube, wherein the pin extends through the third panel, to the fifth panel, through the fifth panel, to the sixth panel, through the sixth panel, to the fourth panel, and through the fourth panel such that the first structural tube, second structural tube, and pin are collectively operable to resist shear and bending forces between the first structural tube and the second structural tube.

A vehicle comprising:

• a traction battery configured to store and provide electrical power to propel the vehicle;
• and
• a frame operable to support the traction battery, wherein a front end of the frame includes,
• a first structural tube extending between forward and rearward regions of the vehicle, wherein the first structural tube has a first top side, a first bottom side, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side, and defines a first internal cavity between the first top side, the first bottom side, the first lateral side, and the second lateral side,
• a second structural tube secured to the first structural tube, wherein the second structural tube extends through the first lateral side, the first internal cavity, and the second lateral side, and wherein the second structural tube has a second top side and a second bottom side, and defines a second internal cavity between the second top side and the second bottom side, and
• a pin secured to the first structural tube, wherein the pin extends through the first top side, the first internal cavity, the second top side, the second internal cavity, the second bottom side, and the first bottom side such that the first structural tube, second structural tube, and pin form a joint that is operable to resist shear and bending forces between the first structural tube and the second structural tube.