Contoured hip/straight member vehicle frame
OwnerPhillip C. Ruehl, Gian Luigi Perelloinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A versatile vehicle frame and method of making which includes a plurality of substantially straight, horizontal members connected with connecting hips having complex geometries. All contours and curves are incorporated into these hips, thus allowing the remainder of the frame to utilize substantially straight members. The vehicle frame permits a variety of frame lengths and widths by providing a variety of straight members having differing lengths. This versatility results in significantly reduced manufacturing costs and model flexibility mid-program.
Claims49
A vehicle frame capable of supporting an engine and a vehicle body, comprising:
- two transversally opposed, forward hips;
- two transversally opposed, rear hips, rearwardly displaced from said forward hips;
- two substantially straight, substantially horizontal central rails connecting said forward hips to said rear hips;
- a substantially straight, substantially horizontal front rail extending forwardly from each of said forward hips, said front rail vertically displaced from said central rails;
- a substantially straight, substantially horizontal rear rail extending rearwardly from each of said rear hips, said rear rail vertically displaced from said central rails;
- a forward cross member connecting said forward hips;
- and,
- a rear cross member connecting said rear hips;
- wherein each of said hips, said rails, and said cross members are formed separately.
A hip useable to connect a plurality of rails to form a vehicle frame comprising:
- a first rail receiving hood configured to mate with a first rail such that said first rail extends horizontally from said first rail receiving hood;
- and,
- a second rail receiving hood, connected to said first rail receiving hood, and configured to mate with a second rail such that said second rail extends horizontally from said second rail receiving hood and such that said second rail is transversally and vertically displaced from said first rail when said first rail and said second rail are mated with said hip.
A vehicle frame comprising a plurality of substantially straight, horizontal members having various relative elevations connected by four, separately formed, stamped metal hips.
The vehicle frame of 24 wherein said members comprise C-section rails.
A method of making a chassis for a vehicle comprising:
- defining a front portion, a central portion, and a rear portion;
- determining the necessary lengths of said portions based on the overall length and configuration of the vehicle;
- determining the desired relative elevations of each of said portions;
- determining the desired relative elevations of cross members which will transversally span the chassis between said front portion and said central portion, and between said central portion and said rear portion;
- designing a hip shape capable of joining substantially straight rails having said desired relative elevations;
- providing a plurality of metal blanks;
- forming said blanks into hips having said hip shapes;
- arranging said hips in a substantially rectangular pattern, such that said hips form the corners of said pattern, and each of said hips has a laterally spaced counterpart and a transversally spaced counterpart;
- connecting said hips with their laterally spaced counterparts with straight central rails of a predetermined length;
- connecting said hips with their transversally spaced counterparts with cross members of a predetermined length such that said hips, said central rails, and said cross members define said central portion;
- extending two substantially straight, horizontal front members of a predetermined length from two of said transversally spaced hips, thereby partially defining said front portion;
- extending two substantially straight, horizontal rear members of a predetermined length from the other two of said transversally spaced hips, thereby partially defining said rear portion.
The method of 32 further comprising determining the desired relative lateral locations of each of said portions.
The method of 39 wherein designing a hip shape comprises designing a hip shape capable of joining straight rails having said desired relative elevations and said lateral locations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.