Vehicle frame cross-member construction
OwnerPaul F. Gantz, William A. Crusan +5inventors
InventorsPaul F. Gantz, William A. Crusan, Mark E. Milligan, Thomas A. Smith, Richard H. Roggenbauer, Gary J. Zolp, James A. Semmelhack
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A frame and cradle assembly for a vehicle comprising side rails and at least one cross member extending there between that define a ladder-like frame having a forward and rearward portion that correspond to the front and rear of a vehicle. At least one mechanical stop disposed on the cross members properly positions the cross members for attachment to the side rails via a tube through tube joint, resulting in a rigid assembly.
Claims32
1) A support structure for use in a vehicle comprising:
- a left and a right side rail, each side rail comprising:
- a first and second end;
- and
- a wall with an aperture;
- a cross member extending between the left side rail and the right side rail, the cross member having:
- an inner and outer surface;
- a first and a second end;
- and
- at least one collar extending radially outwardly from the outer surface proximate an end of the cross member;
- and
- the cross member extending through the aperture in the left and right side rails, the cross member rigidly attached to the side rails, and the at least one collar engaging a portion of one of the side rails.
16) A method of manufacturing a vehicle frame assembly comprising
- providing a pair longitudinally extending side rails positioned in parallel, the side rails having an inner wall, an outer wall, and a first and a second end;
- providing a tubular cross member having inner and an outer surface, and a first and a second end;
- deforming the cross member to have at least one collar extending radially outwardly from the outer surface proximate and end of the cross member;
- securing the cross member transversely to the longitudinal side rails.
22) An automobile cradle assembly including:
- at least two elongated side rails;
- at least one tubular unitary cross member, the cross member having a stop member formed proximate each end of thereof, the stop member extending radially outwardly from outer surface of the tubular cross member;
- and
- the cross member rigidly attached to the side rails via a tube through tube joint.
27) A vehicle frame assembly including:
- at least two elongated side rails;
- at least one tubular unitary cross member, the cross member having a stop member formed proximate each end of thereof, the stop member extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the tubular cross member;
- and
- the cross member rigidly attached to the side rails via a tube through tube joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.