Motor vehicles – Frame – With structure adapted to receive or support a motor,...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-18
2001-08-07
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Motor vehicles
Frame
With structure adapted to receive or support a motor,...
C296S030000, C280S781000, C280S796000, C280S798000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269902
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a construction for mounting a subframe to a vehicle body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Subframe construction is known for mounting an engine, suspensions and the like by partly mounting subframes to a vehicle body. Subframes are used in an area where enormous external force is exerted on a vehicle body, such as an engine-mounting space, suspension-mounting space and the like. Subframes are usually mounted at the bottom of a vehicle body at the front and the rear, respectively. For example in a front engine rear drive type vehicle, front suspensions and an engine are mounted on a front subframe at the front side of the vehicle body, and rear suspensions and a differential gear unit are mounted on a rear subframe at the rear side of the vehicle body.
As mentioned above, these subframes are used in an area where enormous external force is exerted. However, such external force is exerted on a connecting part between the subframe and the vehicle body as well. For this reason, construction for mounting a subframe is a very important factor for the design of a vehicle body. It is also necessary to ensure layout free structure since various equipment are mounted on a subframe. A subframe is often mounted to a subframe mounting surface of a vehicle body at inclined angles.
FIG. 6
shows a conventional construction for mounting a subframe to a vehicle body, in which
FIG. 6A
shows a mounting construction by the use of a bracket, and
FIG. 6B
shows a mounting construction by the use of a collar.
As shown in
FIG. 6A
, a bracket
53
provided with a bolt insertion hole and a pipe insertion sleeve is fitted onto one end of a pipe constructing a subframe and thereafter welded We. The subframe (pipe
51
) is then mounted to a vehicle body
55
in such a way that the bracket
53
is fixed to the vehicle body
55
by a bolt
54
. Meanwhile, as shown in
FIG. 6B
, a pipe
51
constructing a subframe is provided with an insertion hole. A hollow collar
52
is inserted into the insertion hole and thereafter welded We. The subframe (pipe
51
) is then mounted to the vehicle body
55
by the insertion of a bolt
54
through the collar
52
.
However, in the mounting construction shown in
FIG. 6A
, there is a space restriction since the bracket
53
is connected at the end of the pipe
51
. The bracket
53
may be connected at an intermediate portion of the pipes
51
. However, extensive mounting space is required. In either case, such a mounting construction is not preferable due to restriction of the layout space. The mounting construction shown in
FIG. 6A
also has a problem in its strength.
Meanwhile, the mounting construction provided with an insertion hole through the pipe
51
(
FIG. 6B
) is free from restriction of the layout space. However, since the subframe contacts to the vehicle body
55
merely at the collar
52
inserted through the pipe
51
, contact area and contact width to the vehicle body become smaller, leading to insufficient mounting strength of the mounting construction against external force to be applied. Further, in the case that the subframe (pipe
51
) is mounted to a subframe mounting surface
55
a
of the vehicle body
55
at inclined angles, the distance between the subframe mounting surface
55
a
and the center axis of a material constructing a subframe (pipe
51
) becomes greater. This leads to decreased mounting strength as well as inaccurate positioning of the subframe.
Moreover, if the welded portion (weld We) of the bracket
53
or the collar
52
to the pipe
51
peels off, the subframe (pipe
51
) may fall on the ground.
Further, the mounting construction should not be complicated in its structure in order to ensure simple manufacture and reduced cost.
In view of the above, the present invention seeks to provide a construction for mounting a subframe to a vehicle body, which ensures superior mounting strength and less mounting space requirement, and which facilitates inclined mounting of the subframe to the vehicle body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing drawbacks of the prior art in view, there is provided a construction for mounting a subframe to a vehicle body comprising: a hollow collar inserted into a pipe constructing the subframe, the pipe being provided with an insertion hole at a certain position along its thickness direction for the insertion of the hollow collar, and the insertion hole being substantially perpendicular to or inclined to the longitudinal axis of the pipe; a pair of substantially U-shaped brackets fixed to the pipe in such a manner that the hollow collar inserted through the insertion hole is held between the brackets, the bracket comprising a base portion having a bolt insertion hole at its center part in communication with the hollow collar and two side projecting portions extending from the base portion; and a bolt connecting the subframe to the vehicle body through the collar and the bolt insertion holes of the brackets, wherein said base portions of the brackets are parallel in side view to a subframe mounting surface provided on the vehicle body, and said brackets are mounted to the pipe so as to ensure the insertion of the bolt, and further said brackets are fixed to the pipe at least by their respective side projecting portions, and wherein one of said brackets to be directly in contact with the vehicle body provides a mounting surface at its outer surface of the base portion, and said mounting surface enables surface contact with the subframe mounting surface of the vehicle body.
With such construction, since the bracket is substantially U-shaped in profile having side projecting portions at both ends of the base portion and is fixed to the pipe at the side projecting portions, adjustment of the bracket can be carried out in the thickness (vertical) direction of the pipe, allowing mounting of the subframe to the vehicle body at optional angles. The collar functions as a spacer and a reinforcing material since it is positioned between the two brackets. Further, not like a contact merely between the collar and the vehicle body, the present invention provides a contact between the bracket fixed to the pipe and the vehicle body. This enables extensive contact area as well as extensive contact width. No increased mounting space is required.
The bracket functions as a reinforcing material of the subframe (pipe) together with the collar.
Further, since the base portion of each bracket is parallel to the subframe mounting surface of the vehicle body even if the subframe (pipe) is mounted to the vehicle body at inclined angles, the axis of the bolt to be inserted is held substantially perpendicular to the subframe mounting surface.
The term “substantially U-shaped brackets” means that the section thereof is substantially U-shaped, and it also includes a bracket having arcuate-shaped side projecting portions. The term “side projecting portions” means the side portions of the bracket, and the “base portion” connects the side projecting portions. Further, the term “surface contact” includes multipoint contact between the mounting surface of the bracket and the subframe mounting surface of the vehicle body.
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patent: 3556552 (1971-01-01), Deckert
patent: 5040917 (1991-08-01), Camuffo
patent: 5862877 (1999-01-01), Horton et al.
patent: 6073948 (2000-06-01), Motojima et al.
patent: 01022623 (1989-01-01), None
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patent: 10258763 (1998-09-01), None
patent: 10310081 (1998-11-01), None
patent: 10324270 (1998-12-01), None
patent: 10324268 (1998-12-01), None
patent: 11105745 (1999-04-01), None
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Ilan Ruth
Mai Lanna
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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