Load-carrying structure, a segment of body structure, and a vehicle body including such structures
AssigneeGEC Alsthom Transport SA
InventorsAlain Devallez, Vincent Simon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load-carrying structure for a vehicle body, the structure extending radially to the longitudinal axis of the body and being suitable for being associated with structural elements parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, the load-carrying structure constituting a flat frame member and including at least one flat strip, wherein the structural elements are suitable for being inserted in said frame member by a mechanism of notches for receiving them. The device also relates to a segment of body structure and to a vehicle body including such structures.
Claims14
A frame member adapted for use in a vehicle body, said frame member adapted to extend radially to a longitudinal axis of said body and adapted to associate with structural elements of said body parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body, said frame member comprising:
- a plurality of flat strips;
- and
- at least one notch;
- wherein at least one of said structural elements is adapted for insertion in said frame member by means of said at least one notch.
A vehicle body frame, comprising:
- a first frame member adapted for use in a vehicle body;
- and
- a second frame member adapted for use in the vehicle body;
- wherein each said frame member is adapted to extend radially to a longitudinal axis of said body and is adapted to associate with structural elements of said body parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body, each said frame member comprising:
- a plurality of flat strips;
- and
- at least one notch;
- wherein at least one of said structural elements is adapted for insertion in said respective frame member by means of said at least one notch;
- and
- wherein said plurality of flat strips of said first frame member are formed as a first ring;
- wherein said plurality of flat strips of said second frame member are formed as a second ring;
- and
- wherein said first ring is disposed in parallel with and longitudinally spaced behind said second ring.
A segment of a vehicle body structure, comprising:
- at least one frame member adapted for use in a vehicle body;
- wherein said at least one frame member is adapted to extend radially to a longitudinal axis of said body and is adapted to associate with structural elements of said body arranged parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body, said at least one frame member comprising:
- a plurality of flat strips lying in a single plane and forming a portion of a ring;
- and
- at least one notch;
- wherein at least one of said structural elements is adapted for insertion in said at least one frame member by means of said at least one notch;
- and
- at least another frame member adapted for use in the vehicle body;
- wherein said at least another frame member is adapted to extend radially to a longitudinal axis of said body and is adapted to associate with said structural elements of said body arranged parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body, said at least another frame member comprising:
- a plurality of flat strips lying in a single plane and forming a complete ring;
- and
- at least one notch;
- wherein at least one of said structural elements is adapted for insertion in said at least another frame member by means of said at least one notch.
A vehicle body comprising:
- at least one vehicle body structure segment, including:
- at least one frame member adapted for use in a vehicle body;
- wherein said at least one frame member is adapted to extend radially to a longitudinal axis of said body and is adapted to associate with structural elements of said body arranged parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body, said at least one frame member comprising:
- a plurality of flat strips lying in a single plane and forming a portion of a ring;
- and
- at least one notch;
- wherein at least one of said structural elements is adapted for insertion in said at least one frame member by means of said at least one notch;
- and
- at least another frame member adapted for use in the vehicle body;
- wherein said at least another frame member is adapted to extend radially to a longitudinal axis of said body and is adapted to associate with said structural elements of said body arranged parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body, said at least another frame member comprising:
- a plurality of flat strips lying in a single plane and forming a complete ring;
- and
- at least one notch;
- wherein at least one of said structural elements is adapted for insertion in said at least another frame member by means of said at least one notch;
- and
- at least two load-carrying longitudinal section members disposed on said vehicle body structure segment, which are fitted parallel to said longitudinal axis of said vehicle body.
A vehicle body structural frame for mounting vehicle body panels, comprising:
- a first frame member having a plurality of flat strips that formed a first ring defining a first outer perimeter of said vehicle body;
- and
- a second frame member having a plurality of flat strips that formed a second ring defining a second outer perimeter of said vehicle body;
- structural elements extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of said vehicle body and secured to said first frame and second frame;
- wherein said flat strips of said first ring and said second ring lie in respective planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body;
- and
- wherein said first frame, said second frame and said structural elements form a rigid integral support prior to mounting the vehicle body panels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.