Back to results
US 6,685,254 B2Granted
Low floor mass transit vehicle
OwnerJ. Bruce Emmons, Leonard J. Blessinginventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mass transit vehicle includes a frame structure that provides an efficient and economical approach to providing a low floor bus. The inventive frame includes a stiff roof panel and a stiff floor panel. A plurality of generally vertical pillars extend between the roof and floor panels. A unique bracket arrangement is disclosed for connecting the pillars to the panels. Side panels are secured to the pillars and carry the shear stresses on the frame. A unique seating assembly that can be advantageously incorporated into the vehicle taking advantage of the load distributing features of the inventive frame is also disclosed.
Claims28
A mass transit vehicle frame, comprising:
- a stiff floor panel extending from a front to a rear of the frame;
- a stiff roof panel positioned above the floor panel and extending from one lateral edge to an opposite lateral edge of the frame and from the front to the rear of the frame;
- a plurality of pillars extending between the floor panel and the roof panel, the pillars being connected to the panels near ends of the pillars and near edges of the panels;
- and
- a plurality of side panels secured at least to the pillars, the side panels carrying shear loads on the frame.
2 more elements
A method of making a frame for a mass transit vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a stiff roof panel above a stiff floor panel, at least the roof panel extending from one lateral edge to an opposite lateral edge of the frame and extending from a front to a rear of the frame;
- connecting a plurality of pillars to the roof panel and the floor panel near edges of the floor and roof panels and near ends of the pillars;
- and
- connecting a plurality of side panels to at least the pillars such that the side panels carry shear loads on the frame.
1 more element
A mass transit vehicle frame, comprising:
- a stiff floor panel extending from a front to a rear of the frame;
- a stiff roof panel positioned above the floor panel;
- a plurality of pillars extending between the floor panel and the roof panel, the pillars being connected to the panels near ends of the pillars and near edges of the panels;
- a plurality of side panels secured at least to the pillars, the side panels carrying shear loads on the frame;
- connector brackets secured to the pillars near the ends of the pillars and secured to the corresponding floor or roof panel near the edge of the corresponding floor or roof panel, wherein the brackets each have a first support arm secured to the corresponding pillar and a second support arm generally perpendicular to the first support arm, the second support arm being secured to the corresponding panel and wherein the roof panel and the floor panel each include a sandwich construction of two outwardly facing sheets with a reinforcing member secured between the sheets and including at least four of the brackets associated with each end of the pillars, the second support arms of each bracket being secured to a corresponding one of the sheets.
2 more elements
A mass transit vehicle frame, comprising:
- a stiff floor panel extending from a front to a rear of the frame;
- a stiff roof panel positioned above the floor panel;
- a plurality of pillars extending between the floor panel and the roof panel, the pillars being connected to the panels near ends of the pillars and near edges of the panels and wherein the pillars are arranged parallel to each other and are spaced along a length of the frame at selected intervals;
- a plurality of side panels secured at least to the pillars, the side panels carrying shear loads on the frame;
- and
- passenger seats having a front support member secured to a first one of the pillars and a rear support member secured to a second one of the pillars adjacent the first pillar.
3 more elements
A method of making a frame for a mass transit vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a stiff roof panel above a stiff floor panel wherein the roof panel and the floor panel each comprise a sandwich construction having two sheets with a reinforcing member between the sheets;
- connecting a plurality of pillars to the roof panel and the floor panel near edges of the floor and roof panels and near ends of the pillars;
- and
- connecting a plurality of side panels to at least the pillars such that the side panels carry shear loads on the frame;
- securing mounting brackets to the pillars near the ends of the pillars and securing another portion of the brackets to the corresponding one of the floor or roof panels;
- and
- inserting at least some of the other portion of at least some of the brackets in a space between the sheets and securing the other portion of the brackets to the sheets.
4 more elements
A method of making a frame for a mass transit vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a stiff roof panel above a stiff floor panel;
- connecting a plurality of pillars to the roof panel and the floor panel near edges of the floor and roof panels and near ends of the pillars including spacing a plurality of the pillars apart a selected distance;
- connecting a plurality of side panels to at least the pillars such that the side panels carry shear loads on the frame;
- and
- securing seats to the pillars by securing support brackets to the pillars and corresponding portions of the seats with one support bracket of one seat secured to a first portion of one pillar and one support bracket of an adjacent seat secured to a second portion of the one pillar.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.