# US 5,700,033 A · Removable cross member for vehicle frame

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- Number: US 5,700,033 A
- Document ID: US5700033A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/657,879
- Filed: 1996-05-31
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1996-05-31
- Assignees: Dana Corporation
- Inventors: John A. Beckman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700033A

## CPC

- B62D 21/12: assembled from readily detachable parts
- B62D 21/02: comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A full perimeter vehicle frame is described having two siderails and at least one cross member having a zigzag shape which allows it to be easily removable from the siderails. The removable cross member can be square or tubular in cross section and is configured having a first end and a second end which are parallel, but offset from each other and a central portion which extends at an angle between the first end and the second end. The siderails each have an aperture which extends through the siderail from an inner side to an outer side of each siderail. One of the apertures is located at an axial position on a siderail which is offset from the other aperture located on the other siderail. These two apertures are offset the same axial distance as the amount of distance the first and second ends of the cross member are offset from one another. In this configuration, the first end of the cross member is positioned in one of the apertures located in one of the siderails while the second end is positioned in the other aperture located in the other siderail. The cross member is easily installed by positioning one end of the cross member in an aperture in one of the siderails while the other end is positioned to lie in a plane above or below the other siderail. By laterally moving the inserted end, the free end can be rotated towards its associated siderail, and the free end of the cross member can be inserted into the aperture in that siderail. The reverse actions are taken to remove the cross member from the siderails.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A frame for a vehicle comprising:
a first siderail and a second siderail, said first siderail and second siderail extending axially with respect to the length of the vehicle and generally parallel with respect to each other, each of said first siderail and said second siderail having an aperture which extends therethrough from an inner side of each siderail to an outer side of each siderail, said first siderail aperture being located at an axial position which is offset from said second siderail aperture;
at least one cross member, said cross member extending in a generally perpendicular direction between said first and second siderails and being secured to said siderails; and
an auxiliary cross member having a first end and a second end which are parallel, but offset from each other, and a central portion which extends at an angle between said first end and said second end, said first end being positioned in said first siderail aperture and said second end being positioned in said second siderail aperture such that said auxiliary cross member extends between said first siderail and said second siderail.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle frame defined in claim 1 further including a first cross member-to-siderail fixment secured to said first siderail and disposed around said first siderail aperture, a second cross member-to-siderail fixment secured to said second siderail and disposed around said second siderail aperture, and means for securing said auxiliary cross member to said first cross member-to-siderail fixment and second cross member-to-siderail fixment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The vehicle frame defined in claim 2 wherein said means for securing said auxiliary cross member to said first cross member-to-siderail fixment and second cross member-to-siderail fixment is selected from the group consisting of bolts, rivets, and welds.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicle frame defined in claim 3 wherein said means for securing said auxiliary cross member to said first cross member-to-siderail fixment and said second cross member-to-siderail fixment is comprised of bolts or rivets.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle frame defined in claim 1 wherein said central portion of said auxiliary cross member is comprised of a center section disposed between a first angled section and a second angled section, said first angled section and said second angled section extending generally parallel with respect to each other.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The vehicle frame defined in claim 2 wherein said first cross member-to-siderail fixment and said second cross member-to-siderail fixment is a generally hollow member which essentially fully surrounds said auxiliary cross member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle frame defined in claim 1 wherein said first siderail and said second siderail are each comprised of an inner C-shaped member and an outer C-shaped member which are overlapped in a vertical direction to form said box-shaped first siderail and second siderail.

### Claim 8

A method of installing an auxiliary cross member to a vehicle frame, said vehicle frame being comprised of a first siderail, a second siderail, and at least one cross member, said first and second siderails extending axially with respect to the length of the vehicle and generally parallel with respect to each other, said cross member extending in a generally perpendicular direction between said first and second siderails and secured to said first and second siderails, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a first aperture which extends from an inner side of said first siderail to an outer side of said first siderail and providing a second aperture which extends from an inner side of said second siderail to an outer side of said second siderail, said first siderail aperture being located at an axial position which is offset from said second siderail aperture;
(b) providing an auxiliary cross member having a first end and a second end which are parallel, but offset from each other, and a central portion which extends at an angle between said first end and said second end;
(c) positioning said auxiliary cross member such that said first end of said cross member is aligned with said first siderail aperture and said second end of said cross member lies in a plane above or below said second siderail;
(d) moving said first end of said cross member into said first siderail aperture a sufficient distance until said second end of said cross member is able to be aligned with said second siderail aperture when it is rotated towards said second siderail;
(e) rotating said cross member in a direction towards said second siderail until said second end of said cross member is aligned with said second siderail aperture;
(f) moving said second end of said cross member into said second siderail aperture until said cross member is centered between said first and second siderails; and
(g) securing said cross member to said first and second siderails.