Reinforced vehicle framing

Details Reinforced vehicle framing Reinforced vehicle framing

2000-11-06

2002-04-30

Patel, Ken (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Bodies

Body shell

C296S209000, C296S187060, C296S203020, C296S203030

Reexamination Certificate

active

06378933

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an automotive vehicle framing system, and particularly to a vehicle framing system that includes a hollow sill having enhanced resistance against bending or torsional load forces while providing optimal vibration characteristics, also considering impact concerns.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A typical automotive or light truck body would include underbody frame rails and body side apertures/sides sills that form the door surround structure. These are major structural components that determine overall body stiffness and the location of the first torsion and bending nodes. The present invention is concerned with the strengthening of these structures, in this case with a variable cross section structural foam. The varied cross section would be used to position the node for optimal vibration characteristics for the vehicle occupants and improved impact response, without unduly increasing the weight of the vehicle.
One preferred embodiment of the invention includes a tubular side structure that has an elongated hollow sill with a rigid lightweight insert extending within the hollow sill to surrounded by structural polymer foam give the sill an enhanced resistance against bending or torsional load forces.
In order to minimize the overall weight of the side frame, a relatively lightweight elongated three dimensional core is located within the sill; the rigid polymer foam has an inner surface bonded to the elongated core, and an outer surface bonded to the interior surface of the hollow sill. The core is preferably formed as a hollow tubular element to reduce the core weight. The light weight core occupies a significant portion of the sill interior space, thereby reducing the amount (mass) of rigid polymer foam required to stiffen the hollow sill against bending or torsional load forces.
Specific features of the invention will be apparent from the attached drawings and description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5016895 (1991-05-01), Hollingsworth et al.
patent: 5102188 (1992-04-01), Yamane
patent: 5124186 (1992-06-01), Wycech
patent: 5213391 (1993-05-01), Takagi
patent: 5544933 (1996-08-01), Shahab et al.
patent: 5580116 (1996-12-01), Patel et al.
patent: 5595415 (1997-01-01), Beaulat
patent: 5609385 (1997-03-01), Daniel et al.
patent: 5660426 (1997-08-01), Sugimori et al.
patent: 5678826 (1997-10-01), Miller
patent: 5700050 (1997-12-01), Gonas
patent: 5720510 (1998-02-01), Daniel et al.
patent: 5806919 (1998-09-01), Davies
patent: 5871253 (1999-02-01), Erber
patent: 5884960 (1999-03-01), Wycech
patent: 5908216 (1999-06-01), Townsend
patent: 5997077 (1999-12-01), Siebels et al.
patent: 6073992 (2000-06-01), Yamauchi et al.
patent: 6082811 (2000-07-01), Yoshida
patent: 6096403 (2000-08-01), Wycech
patent: 6135542 (2000-10-01), Emmelmann et al.
patent: 6193306 (2001-02-01), Lee
patent: 6199940 (2001-03-01), Hopton et al.
patent: 6217109 (2001-04-01), Okana et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Reinforced vehicle framing does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Reinforced vehicle framing, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Reinforced vehicle framing will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2914935