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US 4,726,166 AGranted
Vehicle frame rail assembly and underbody construction
AssigneeAmerican Motors Corporation
InventorDelbert D. DeRees
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rail assembly which is especially advantageous for use in constructing the frame and underbody of a motor vehicle comprises an upper channel member, a lower channel member and an intermediate member or web in the form of a corrugated sheet secured between the channel members and whose margins abuttingly engage the peripheral walls of the channels. Each furrow and ridge preferably comprises a planar panel portion.
Claims37
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel,
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of single walled side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite sides of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first, second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage an adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel, and
- wherein said side flanges and said margins engaging said adjacent side flanges include at least linearly mating, overlapping engagement surface portions, and
- wherein one of said first and second margins abuttingly engages said base of said at least one of said upper and lower members, and
- wherein the other of said first and second margins includes web flanges extending laterally outwardly beyond said side flanges.
7 more elements
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel,
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite side of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first, second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage an adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel, and
- wherein each furrow and ridge comprises a planar panel portion, and
- wherein each said planar panel portion is trapezoidal.
6 more elements
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel,
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite side of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first, second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage an adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel,
- wherein one of said first and second margins abuttingly engages said base of said at least one of said upper and lower members,
- wherein the other of said first and second margins includes web flanges extending laterally outwardly beyond said side flanges, and
- wherein said at least one of said upper and lower members has a hat cross section and includes edge flanges extending outwardly from said side flanges and wherein said web flanges abuttingly engage said edge flanges.
7 more elements
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel,
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite side of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first, second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage and adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel,
- wherein one of said first and second margins abuttingly engages said base of said at least one of said upper and lower members,
- wherein the other of said first and second margins includes web flanges extending laterally outwardly beyond said side flanges,
- wherein said at least one of said upper and lower members has a hat cross section and includes edge flanges extending outwardly from said side flanges, and
- wherein each of at least one of said alternating furrows and ridges is formed by depressions in said web panel sheet.
8 more elements
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel,
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite side of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first, second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage an adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel,
- wherein said ridges and furrows are formed by stamping said web panel to form furrow panel sections, ridge panel sections and web panel sections interconnecting said furrow sections and said ridge sections,
- wherein at least one of said furrow panel sections, ridge panel sections and web panel sections include integrally formed means for reinforcing said at least one of said panel sections,
- wherein said reinforcement means comprises a curvature in at least one of said panel sections, and
- wherein at least one of said first and second margins engages one of said side flanges and said curvature has a radius of curvature lying in a second plane which is perpendicular to a first plane, said first plane containing the longitudinal axis of the rail and being parallel to said bases.
8 more elements
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel,
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite side of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first, second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage an adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel,
- wherein one of said first and second margins abuttingly engages said base of said at least one of said upper and lower members,
- wherein the other of said first and second margins includes web flanges extending laterally outwardly beyond said side flanges,
- wherein said ridges and furrows are formed by stamping said web panel to form furrow panel sections, ridge panel sections and web panel sections interconnecting said furrow sections and said ridge sections,
- wherein at least one of said furrow panel sections, ridge panel sections and web panel sections include integrally formed means for reinforcing said at least one of said panel sections,
- wherein said reinforcement means comprises a curvature in at least one of said panel sections, and
- said curvature having a radius of curvature lying in a second plane which is perpendicular to a first plane, said first plane containing the longitudinal axis of the rail and being perpendicular to said bases.
10 more elements
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel,
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite side of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first, second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage an adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel, and
- wherein one of said first and second margins includes web flanges extending laterally outwardly beyond said side flanges.
5 more elements
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel,
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite side of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first, second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage an adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel, and
- wherein one of said first and second margins abuttingly engages said base of said at least one of said upper and lower members.
5 more elements
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel,
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of single walled side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite sides of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first, second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage an adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel, and
- wherein said side flanges and said margins engaging said adjacent side flanges include at least linearly mating, overlapping engagement surface portions, and
- wherein said ridges and furrows are formed by stamping said web panel to form furrow panel sections, ridge panel sections and web panel sections interconnecting said furrow sections and said ridge sections, and
- wherein at least one of said furrow panel sections, ridge panel sections and web panel sections include integrally formed means for reinforcing said at least one of said panel sections, and
- wherein said reinforcement means comprises a curvature in at least one of said panel sections, and
- wherein said curvature comprises a compound curvature.
9 more elements
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel,
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of single walled side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite sides of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first, second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage an adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel and
- wherein said side flanges and said margins engaging said adjacent side flanges include at least linearly mating, overlapping engagement surface portions, and
- wherein said ridges and furrows are formed by stamping said web panel to form furrow panel sections, ridge panel sections and web panel sections interconnecting said furrow sections and said ridge sections, and
- wherein at least one of said furrow panel sections, ridge panel sections and web panel sections include integrally formed means for reinforcing said at least one of said panel sections, and
- wherein said reinforcement means comprises a curvature in at least one of said panel sections, and
- wherein said at least one of said panel sections comprises said web panel sections and wherein each of at least one of said ridge panel sections and said furrow panel sections comprise a planar panel.
9 more elements
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel,
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of single walled side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite sides of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first, second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage an adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel, and
- wherein said side flanges and said margins engaging said adjacent side flanges include at least linearly mating, overlapping engagement surface portions, and
- wherein each said furrow and ridge comprises a planar panel portion, and
- wherein each said planar panel portion is trapezoidal.
7 more elements
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel,
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of single walled side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite sides of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage an adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel, and
- wherein said side flanges and said margins engaging said adjacent side flanges include at least linearly mating, overlapping engagement surface portions, and
- wherein each said furrow and ridge comprises a planar panel portion, and
- wherein each planar panel portion is coupled to an adjacent panel portion by a planar web portion, and
- wherein each planar web portion is acutely angled with respect to the transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said support rail.
8 more elements
A support rail comprising:
- an upper elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges,
- a lower elongated member having a base with longitudinal edges, and
- a web panel secured to and positioned between said upper and lower members, said web panel comprising an elongated sheet having alternating furrows and ridges extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said panel.
- wherein at least one of said upper and lower members includes a pair of single walled side flanges, each side flange extending from an opposite longitudinal edge of said base to define a channel between said side flanges adapted to receive said web,
- wherein said furrows define a first margin of said web panel, wherein said ridges define a second margin of said web panel, wherein the longitudinal edges on opposite sides of said web panel sheet define third and fourth margins, respectively, and
- wherein each of at least three of said first, second, third and fourth margins abuttingly engage an adjacent one of said two side flanges and said base of said at least one member, and
- means for securing said web panel in said channel, and
- wherein said side flanges and said margins engaging said adjacent side flanges include at least linearly mating, overlapping engagement surface portions, and
- wherein said first margin abuttingly engages one of said two side flanges and said second margin abuttingly engages the other of said two side flanges,
- wherein said furrow panels and said ridge panels are secured to said side flanges of said at least one member and wherein said furrow panels and said ridge panels are planar, trapezoidal panels.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.