Automobile underbody structure

Abstract

An automobile underbody structure includes a floor panel having a pair of longitudinal side edges, each extending longitudinally of the automobile body structure and having a respective side sill rigidly secured from below to the associated side edge so as to extend in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the automobile body structure. A pair of side frames are positioned between the opposite side sills and are secured from below to an undersurface of the floor panel so as to extend generally parallel to the side sills. Two sets of a plurality of generally elongated torque boxes, one set for each side of the floor panel, are secured to the undersurface of the floor panel so as to represent a generally closed cross-section in cooperation with the floor panel. Each set of the torque boxes so secured to the floor panel are spaced apart from each other in a direction longitudinally of the automobile body structure and are connected together by a connecting member secured to the respective set of the torque boxes and spaced from the floor panel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.