Vehicle with composite structural bed
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorBrian V. Castillo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle having a structural bed configured to serve as a structural load-bearing member is provided. The structural bed extends rearward from a cab structure of the vehicle and includes a core layer. First and second outer layers flank the core layer and span substantially the entirety of the core layer. The first and second outer layers are composed of a material that has a higher strength than the core layer. The thickness of the core layer may be at least approximately 10 times greater than each of the thicknesses of the first and second outer layers, respectively. The composite structural bed may be integrated with mass-efficient structures to produce an efficient load-bearing structure for a vehicle.
Claims17
A vehicle having a cab structure, the vehicle comprising:
- a structural bed extending rearward from the cab structure and configured as a structural load-bearing member;
- wherein the structural bed includes:
- a core layer;
- first and second outer layers flanking the core layer and spanning substantially the entirety of the core layer;
- wherein the first and second outer layers are composed of a material that has a higher strength than the core layer;
- a first buttress extending rearward from the cab structure and operatively connected to the structural bed;
- a first coil spring operatively connected to the structural bed;
- and
- wherein the first buttress is aligned at least partially with the first coil spring and configured to transmit a spring load of the first coil spring to the cab structure.
A vehicle comprising:
- a cab structure having spaced-apart longitudinally-extending first and second underbody rails;
- a structural bed extending rearward from the cab structure;
- wherein the structural bed includes:
- a core layer;
- and
- first and second outer layers flanking the core layer and spanning substantially the entirety of the core layer;
- wherein said core layer has a thickness of at least approximately 10 times each of the first and second outer layers;
- spaced-apart first and second rail extensions operatively connecting the structural bed to the respective first and second underbody rails;
- and
- grooves formed in the core layer, the grooves being configured to allow the core layer to crush in a predetermined manner upon a rear impact event.
A vehicle comprising:
- a cab structure having spaced-apart longitudinally-extending first and second underbody rails;
- a structural bed extending rearward from the cab structure;
- wherein the structural bed includes a core layer;
- and first and second outer layers flanking the core layer and spanning substantially the entirety of the core layer;
- wherein said core layer has a thickness of at least approximately 10 times each of the first and second outer layers;
- spaced-apart first and second rail extensions operatively connecting the structural bed to the respective first and second underbody rails;
- spaced-apart first and second buttresses extending rearward from the cab structure and operatively connected to the structural bed;
- a reinforcement block insertable into an aperture in the core layer of the structural bed, the reinforcement block having a block opening for receiving a fastener;
- and
- a fastener extending through the block opening in the reinforcement block and aligned respective openings in the first rail extension and first and second outer layers of the structural bed, thereby connecting the structural bed to the first rail extension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.