# US 9,039,061 B2 · Vehicle frame assemblies with threaded connections > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,061 B2 - Document ID: US9039061B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/750,006 - Filed: 2013-01-25 - Published: 2013-10-10 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-30 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: David Anthony Wagner; Michael M. Azzouz; Eric William Barrett; Xiaoming Chen; John Martin Knittel; Sanjay Mehta; John Joseph Uicker; Jeff A. Wallace - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039061B2 ## CPC - B62D 65/02: Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components - B23K 31/02: relating to soldering or welding - B23K 33/006: {for cylindrical workpieces} - B23K 33/008: {for automotive applications} - B62D 21/00: Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted (combined frame and vehicle body B62D23/00 {; characterised by the material thereof B62D29/00}) - B62D 21/02: comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members - B62D 27/065: {using screwthread (connection of crossbeam to A- pillars B62D25/147; mounting load bearing surfaces B62D21/09; securing mudguards B62D25/163; connections for synthetic parts B62D29/048)} - F16B 7/182: {for coaxial connections of two rods or tubes} - B23K 2101/006: {Vehicles} - B23K 2101/185: {Tailored blanks} - B23K 2101/28: Beams - B23K 2103/04: Steel {or steel} alloys - B23K 2103/08: Non-ferrous metals or alloys - B23K 2103/10: Aluminium or alloys thereof - B23K 2103/16: Composite materials - B23K 2103/18: Dissimilar materials - B23K 2103/20: Ferrous alloys and aluminium or alloys thereof - F16B 11/006: {by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48)} - F16B 39/04: with a member penetrating the screw-threaded surface of at least one part, e.g. a pin, a wedge, cotter-pin, screw - Y10T 29/49616: Structural member making - Y10T 29/49622: Vehicular structural member making - 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) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method of manufacturing a vehicle frame, includes: forming compatible threads on a first rail composed of a first material and a second rail composed of a second material; forming a pair of locators on the first and second rails, said locators configured to indicate an alignment condition of the first rail and second rail when screwed together; and screwing together the first rail and second rail. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing a vehicle frame, comprising: forming compatible threads on an interconnecting member (ICM) and a first rail composed of a first material; screwing together the ICM and first rail; and welding the ICM to a second rail composed of a second material such that a long axis of the ICM intersects a long axis of the second rail. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming the ICM to be composed of a material that is weld-compatible with the second material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming compatible threads on an interconnecting member (ICM) and a first rail includes forming a well-section in the threads configured to hold adhesive therein. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising: adding adhesive between the ICM and first rail. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming a pair of locators on the ICM and first rail, said locators configured to indicate rotational alignment of the ICM and first rail when screwed together. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: forming a bolt; forming compatible threads on the bolt and the locators; and threading the bolt through locators. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming the first rail to have a first cross-sectional configuration in one section and a second cross-sectional configuration in a second section; wherein the first rail includes compatible threads in the second section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: forming a mechanical stop on an outer surface of the first rail configured to distribute a clamp load on the second rail to an outer surface of the first rail. ### Claim 9 A vehicle frame assembly, comprising: a first structural member composed of a first material; a second structural member composed of a second material; a third structural member welded to the second structural member with a third member long axis intersecting a second member long axis; compatible threads on the first and second vehicle structural members; and corresponding fastener holes on the first and second structural members configured to jointly receive a fastener. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle frame assembly of claim 9, further comprising: a well in the compatible threads of the first or second vehicle structural member, configured to hold adhesive therein. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle frame assembly of claim 10, further comprising: adhesive in the well of threads between the first and second vehicle structural members. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The vehicle frame assembly of claim 9, further comprising: a bolt threaded through the locators fastener holes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The vehicle frame assembly of claim 9, further comprising: a mechanical stop formed on an outer surface of the first vehicle structural member, the stop configured to distribute a clamp load on the second vehicle structural member to the outer surface of the first vehicle structural member. ### Claim 14 A vehicle frame assembly comprising: a first linear member formed of a first material, the first linear member having a first central axis and a first threaded portion with a first fastener hole extending through the first threaded portion; a second linear member formed of a second material, the second linear member having a second central axis, a second threaded portion with a second fastener hole extending through the second threaded portion, and a third threaded portion, the second threaded portion being engaged with the first threaded portion such that the first and second central axes are generally coaxial; a first bolt extending through the first and second fastener holes to restrain rotation of the first linear member relative to the second linear member; and a third linear member formed of the second material, the third linear member having a fourth threaded portion, the fourth threaded portion being engaged with the third threaded portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle frame assembly of claim 14, wherein the third linear member has a third central axis, the third central axis being generally coaxial with the first and second axes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The vehicle frame assembly of claim 14, wherein the third linear member has a third central axis, the third central axis intersecting the first and second axes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle frame assembly of claim 16, wherein the third linear member intersects the first and second axes at an angle of approximately 90°. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The vehicle frame assembly of claim 14, further comprising a third fastener hole extending through the third threaded portion, a fourth fastener hole extending through the fourth threaded portion, and a second bolt extending through the third and fourth fastener holes to restrain rotation of the third linear member relative to the second linear member.