Motor vehicle having a modular structure and a method for assembling it
AssigneeFiat Auto S.p.A.
InventorsPier Giorgio Tronville, Giorgio Cornacchia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor vehicle comprises a pre-assembled front module (1) including a support structure (2); a propulsion unit (14); a steerable front wheel assembly (17); an intermediate support structure (20) for housing and supporting a windscreen; a planar load-bearing floor structure (30); a pre-assembled intermediate module (40) including a firewall (41), instrument panel (42), steering column (43, 44) and a control pedal assembly (45); a rear pre-assembled module (50) including a support frame (51), at least one pair of rear wheels (55); an annular rear structure (60); and two side structures (70).
Claims17
A motor vehicle having a modular structure, which includes
- a first, or front pre-assembled module (1) which includes
- a first support structure (2) which includes a pair of essentially horizontal, parallel longerons (3);
- a propulsion unit (14) fixed to the said support structure;
- a pair of steerable front wheels (17) coupled to the said propulsion unit (14), together with associated suspension devices (18) fixed to the said support structure (2);
- an intermediate support structure (20), fixed to the front module (1) and including an annular frame (21) for housing and supporting a windscreen;
- an essentially flat load-bearing floor structure (30) fixed to the longerons (3) of the front module (1);
- a second, or intermediate pre-assembled module (40), fixed to the front module (1) and to the said intermediate support structure (20) and which includes a firewall (41), an instrument panel (42), a steering column (43, 44) and a control pedal assembly (45);
- a third or rear pre-assembled module (50), fixed to the longerons (3) of the front module (1) and including a support frame (51), at least one pair of rear wheels (55) with associated suspension devices (56) fixed to the said frame (51);
- an annular rear structure (60) fixed to the rear module (50), and
- two side structures (70) fixed by opposite edges to the intermediate support structure (20), the floor structure (30) and the said annular rear structure (60).
A motor vehicle with a modular structure according to any preceding Claim, in which the support structure (2) of the front module (1) includes two essentially symmetrical struts (6), each extending upwardly and rearwardly from the front end of a respective longeron (3);
- respective end plates (7) being fixed to the free ends of the said members (6) for connection with the aforesaid intermediate support structure (20-22).
A motor vehicle with a modular structure according to any preceding claim, in which the said support structure. (2) of the front module (1) includes a support cross member (12), fixed to the said longerons (3) for supporting devices such as the steering box.
A motor vehicle with a modular structure according to any preceding claim, in which the support structure (2) of the front module (1) also includes a shaped member (13) fixed to the said longerons (3) for coupling with one end of the floor structure (30).
A motor vehicle with a modular structure according to any preceding claim, in which the intermediate support structure (20) includes a pair of pillars (22) which depend essentially vertically from the lower portion of the said frame (21) and are fixed to the support structure (2) of the front module (1).
A motor vehicle with a modular structure according to any preceding claim, in which the frame (51) of the rear module (50) includes a front shaped beam (52) for coupling with the rear edge of the floor structure (30).
A motor vehicle with a modular structure according to any preceding Claim, further including an upper closure panel or roof (80), fixed to the top edges of the intermediate structure (20), the annular rear structure (60) and the side structures (70).
A method for assembling a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of
- pre-assembling a first or front module (1) comprising
- a first support structure (2) including a pair of essentially horizontal, parallel longerons (3);
- a propulsion unit (14) fixed to the said support structure;
- an assembly of steerable front wheels (17) coupled to the said propulsion unit (14), with associated suspension devices (18) fixed to the said support structure (2);
- pre-assembling an intermediate support structure (20) which includes an annular frame (21) for housing and supporting a windscreen;
- providing an essentially planar load-bearing floor structure (30);
- pre-assembling a second or intermediate module (40) which includes a firewall (41), an instrument panel (42), a steering column (43, 44) and a control pedal assembly (45);
- pre-assembling a third or rear module (50) which includes a support frame (51) at least one pair of rear wheels (55) and associated suspension devices (56, 57) fixed to the said frame (51);
- fixing the intermediate support structure (20) to the aforesaid front module (1);
- fixing the floor structure (30) to the longerons (3) of the front module (1);
- fixing the said intermediate module (40) to the front module (1) and to the aforesaid intermediate support structure (20), coupling the steering column (43, 44) and the pedal assembly (45) to corresponding devices of the propulsion unit (14) and of the front wheel assembly (17);
- and
- fixing the rear module (50) to the longerons (3) of the front module (1).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.