Unitized vehicle frame subassembly and method of assembling a side frame for a vehicle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDragan Stojkovic, Lawrence J. Dupuls, Randy Linn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A frame subassembly for a vehicle is provided that includes a one-piece hydro-formed upper side beam and may also include a one-piece hydro-formed lower side beam. The side beams extend from the front or grill area of the vehicle to the rear portion of the vehicle. The side beams are interconnected by A, B and C pillars. The beams are welded to each other through access openings in the beams and in and the pillars. The pillars are attached to the beams by welding through access holes.
Claims16
A frame subassembly for a vehicle having a front end that partially defines an engine compartment and a passenger compartment including a windshield that is located rearward of the front end, the frame subassembly comprising:
- a one-piece hydro-formed beam having an upper fender reinforcement portion disposed at the front end, an upper A-pillar portion disposed adjacent the wind shield, and a roof rail portion that spans the length of the passenger compartment;
- wherein the front structural components are attached to the upper fender reinforcement portion, the windshield is attached to the upper A-pillar portion, and the roof of the vehicle is attached to the roof rail portion.
A frame subassembly for a vehicle having a front end that partially defines an engine compartment and a passenger compartment including a windshield that is located rearward of the front end, the frame subassembly comprising:
- a one-piece hydro-formed upper side beam having a first fender reinforcement portion disposed at the front end, an upper A-pillar portion disposed adjacent the windshield, and a roof rail portion that spans the length of the passenger compartment;
- a one-piece hydro-formed lower side beam having a second fender reinforcement portion disposed at the front end, and a rocker beam portion rearward of the second fender reinforcement portion;
- a lower A-pillar attached to the upper side beam adjacent a lower edge of the windshield and to the lower side beam adjacent a forward end of the rocker beam portion;
- a B-pillar attached at an intermediate location to the roof rail portion and at an intermediate location to the rocker beam portion;
- and
- a C-pillar attached to a downwardly oriented opening at an upper rear terminal end of the upper side beam and an upwardly oriented opening at a lower rear terminal end of the lower side beam.
A method of assembling a side frame for a vehicle having a front grill and a back end comprising:
- hydro-forming an upper side rail that has a front portion to which the front grill is attached and a rear portion to which the back end is attached;
- hydro-forming an lower side rail that has a front portion to which the front grill is attached and a rear portion to which the back end is attached;
- welding the front portions of the upper and lower side rails together;
- assembling a lower A-pillar to the upper and lower side rails;
- assembling a B-pillar to the upper and lower side rails;
- assembling a C-pillar to the upper and lower side rails;
- and
- welding the A-pillar, B-pillar and C-pillar to the upper and lower side rails.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.