Automobile body frame and envelope construction
OwnerDonald W. Pulverinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lightweight vehicle body and envelope construction for an elongated wheelbased vehicle of relatively narrow track where the aspect ratio for wheelbase to track is between approximately 2:1 and 3:1. The lightweight vehicle approach taught herein relies upon a central truss member within the passenger compartment which extends longitudinally and symmetrically between the wheel mounting positions as the main longitudinal bending load bearing member of the vehicle.
Claims21
A vehicle body frame and envelope construction for an elongated wheelbased vehicle of relatively narrow track having an aspect ratio for wheelbase to track of between approximately 2:1 and 3:1 comprising:
- A. longitudinal frame means between points of attachment for a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly, said points defining said vehicle wheelbase, and
- B. transverse frame means between and encompassing wheel mounting positions on each of said front rear wheel assemblies, said positions defining said vehicle track,
- C. wherein said longitudinal frame means further comprises a central truss member means extending longitudinally between said wheel assembly attachment points wherein said central truss member means is symmetrically between said wheel mounting positions and extends vertically through a passenger compartment to further define an upper roof support for said vehicle body, wherein said central truss member means further comprises an upper longitudinal strut defining said roof support and a bottom longitudinal strut defining the bottom of said vehicle frame, said struts being vertically interconnected by respective vertical struts at spaced longitudinal positions along said longitudinal struts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.