121 |
Vehicle Skeleton Member |
US13957465 |
2013-08-02 |
US20130313862A1 |
2013-11-28 |
Tadashi Yamaji; Yutaka Yagi; Masatomo Teshima; Koji Suzuki; Toru Kaneko |
There is provided a vehicle skeleton member including a composite material of a thermoplastic resin and a carbon fiber, wherein the composite material is a unidirectional carbon-fiber composite material (A) that a form of the carbon fiber in the composite material is a continuous fiber aligned in one direction and/or a random carbon-fiber composite material (B) that a form of the carbon fiber in the composite material is a discontinuous fiber arranged two-dimensionally randomly. |
122 |
COMPOSITE TUB STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE |
US13634804 |
2011-03-17 |
US20130134741A1 |
2013-05-30 |
Claudio Santoni |
A moulded structural tub for a vehicle, the tub having: a main compartment bounded by a first lateral wall, a second lateral wall, and a floor extending between the lateral walls; a strengthening member integral with the first lateral wall and projecting in a longitudinal direction from the first lateral wall towards the second lateral wall; the profile of the surfaces of the main compartment being such that, in any cross-sectional plane parallel to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the plane generally defined by the floor, the length of a line drawn in that cross-sectional plane between a fixed point on that part of the strengthening member closest to the second lateral wall, and a movable point confined to the profile monotonically increases in length as the movable point on the profile is moved in a generally longitudinal direction so as to trace from the fixed point along the profile of the first lateral wall, the floor and the second lateral wall in an unbroken set of points representing the cross-section of the surfaces of the main compartment in that cross-sectional plane; wherein each of the said cross-sectional planes which meet the surface of the floor in the main compartment intersect the floor once along a single continuous line or at a common plane. |
123 |
FRAME MEMBERS WITH TAB AND SLOT CONNECTIONS |
US13233863 |
2011-09-15 |
US20130069392A1 |
2013-03-21 |
Stephen Hall |
In one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle frame comprises a plurality of frame members including at least two side plate members interlocked with a bottom plate member and a vertically loaded plate member. The bottom plate member and the vertically loaded plate member are non-parallel. The side plate members support the bottom plate member and the vertically loaded plate member through a plurality of tab and slot connections. |
124 |
Frame members with tab and slot connections |
US13233863 |
2011-09-15 |
US08398159B1 |
2013-03-19 |
Stephen Hall |
In one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle frame comprises a plurality of frame members including at least two side plate members interlocked with a bottom plate member and a vertically loaded plate member. The bottom plate member and the vertically loaded plate member are non-parallel. The side plate members support the bottom plate member and the vertically loaded plate member through a plurality of tab and slot connections. |
125 |
Vehicle having a body panel |
US11622125 |
2007-01-11 |
US08177277B2 |
2012-05-15 |
Gregory Thomas Hedderly |
A vehicle having a vehicle body component and a body panel. The vehicle body component has a body mating feature. The body panel has a body panel mating feature that engages the body mating feature to secure the body panel to the vehicle body component. |
126 |
Supporting structural element for a motor vehicle with a centrally positioned engine |
US11573497 |
2005-08-03 |
US07717499B2 |
2010-05-18 |
Leonardo Fioravanti |
The supporting structural element (1) comprises a shaped rigid body (2) in which are formed: two transversely adjacent cellular formations (3), intended to receive corresponding padding means (4, 5) to form seats; each of the said cellular formations (3) has a seat portion (3a) and a backrest portion (3b); an intermediate formation (6) shaped like an inverted channel, which interconnects the seat portions (3a) of the aforesaid cellular formations (3), forming a tunnel (7); a horizontal or virtually horizontal upper planar formation (9), which interconnects the upper backrest portions (3b) of the cellular formations (3), and a rear formation (10), essentially in the shape of a dihedral, with a first wing or skirt (10a) which is substantially horizontal and extends behind the seat portions (3a) of the cellular formations (3), and with a second wing or skirt (10b) which extends between the upper planar formation (9) and the said first wing or skirt (10a), behind and distant from the backrest portions (3b) of the cellular formations (3) such that a compartment or receptacle (11) is formed. |
127 |
METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A VEHICLE |
US11622154 |
2007-01-11 |
US20080168644A1 |
2008-07-17 |
Gregory Thomas Hedderly |
A method of manufacturing a vehicle. The method includes assembling a set of body panels to a vehicle body structure by interlocking a body panel mating feature with a body mating feature. |
128 |
Method for producing a Y-shaped node structure for the supporting frame of a motor vehicle |
US10507922 |
2003-04-04 |
US07389586B2 |
2008-06-24 |
Lothar Patberg |
A y-shaped gusset structure can be used, for example, in a support frame for vehicles. The gusset structure includes two hollow sections. The first hollow section includes at least one flat side, has been cut through along its circumference except for a web situated in the flat side, and has been bent open around this web. The face of the second hollow section has been inserted into the facing ends of the first hollow section, which facing ends have been created by the process of cutting and bending open, wherein the edge regions of the ends are integrally connected with the first hollow section. |
129 |
Vehicle floor having a unitary inner panel and outer panel |
US10763564 |
2004-01-23 |
US07111900B2 |
2006-09-26 |
Adrian B. Chernoff; Christopher E. Borroni-Bird; Mohsen D. Shabana; Robert Louis Vitale; Tommy E. White |
A vehicle floor includes a unitary, one-piece panel. The panel is formed with an integral channel for routing a vehicle distribution system conduit therewithin. The panel may include an inner panel portion, an outer panel portion, integral rocker panel portions, front, rear and trunk floor portions. A method is provided for manufacturing a vehicle floor, the method including forming such a panel. |
130 |
Motor vehicle |
US10952431 |
2004-09-29 |
US07090290B2 |
2006-08-15 |
Franz-Xaver Neumeier; Juergen Schippan |
A motor vehicle in which a floor of the body is reinforced by reinforcing struts arranged in V shapes, in which a body with a high rigidity is achieved by mounting the rear end-area ends of rear reinforcing struts arranged in a V-shape on a connecting area on the bottom of the vehicle rear end, where the ends of two other rear end-area reinforcing struts that run in a V shape are arranged, and by mounting the rear end area of the two other reinforcing struts so they run obliquely to the rear in the direction of a rear end of the vehicle and obliquely toward the outside in the direction of rear chassis beam members, with the rear ends of the other reinforcing struts being mounted on the rear chassis beam members. |
131 |
Y-shaped node structure for the supporting frame of a motor vehicle |
US10507922 |
2003-04-04 |
US20060001285A1 |
2006-01-05 |
Lothar Patberg |
The invention relates to a y-shaped gusset structure of a support frame for vehicles as well as a method for its production. The gusset structure comprises two hollow sections (1, 2), of which the first hollow section (1) comprises at least one flat side and along its circumference has been cut through except for a web (1c) situated in the flat side, and has been bent open around this web (1c). The face of the second hollow section (2) has been inserted into the facing ends 1a, 1b) of the first hollow section (1), which facing ends (1a, 1b) have been created by the process of cutting and bending open, wherein the edge regions (1e) of said ends (1a, 1b) are integrally connected with the first hollow section (1). |
132 |
Method of making a vehicle body |
US10457746 |
2003-06-09 |
US06931730B2 |
2005-08-23 |
Adrian Nicholas Alexander Elliott; Kimberly Ann Lazarz; Matthew John Zaluzec |
A method of securing body panels to a space frame for a vehicle is disclosed. The body panels are secured to rivet nuts that are assembled to frame members. The location of the rivet nuts or rivet nuts supporting surface is measured and the rivet nuts are milled or machined to correspond to reference body coordinates. The milled rivet nuts function as a integral shim pack and obviate the need for shims between the space frame and body panels. |
133 |
Rear vehicle body structure |
US10692447 |
2003-10-22 |
US20040080188A1 |
2004-04-29 |
Masanori
Igarashi; Akira
Nomura |
A rear vehicle body structure has rear side frames extending longitudinally, C and D pillars extending substantially vertically, a first cross member connecting at a front end thereof to one of the rear side frames in the vicinity of one of the C pillars for shifting to a rear of the body as separating from the one of the rear side frames and then connecting at a rear end thereof to the other rear side frame, and a second cross member connecting at a front end thereof to the other rear side frame in the vicinity of the other C pillar for shifting to the rear of the body as separating from the other rear side frame to cross the first cross member and then connecting at a rear end thereof to the one of the rear side frame. |
134 |
Advanced composite hybrid-electric vehicle |
US10337730 |
2003-01-08 |
US20030230443A1 |
2003-12-18 |
David
Cramer; David
Taggart; Timothy
Moore; David
Cooper; Serve
Ploumen; Malcolm
Sim; David
Wareing; Chris
Wright |
An advanced composite hybrid-electric vehicle including one or more of lightweight, advanced composite structures, modular rear suspension and traction motor units, fuel-cell hybrid-electric powertrains, integrated electromagnetic and pneumatic suspension systems, and a digital network-based control system and information management architecture that uses a fault tolerant ring main power supply. |
135 |
Stiffeners for automotive sheet body structure |
US09829513 |
2001-04-10 |
US06588831B1 |
2003-07-08 |
Carlos M. Ochoa |
A reinforcing support structure for an automotive vehicle body having a sheet structure (10) including a pair of side sheet structures (11, 12). Upper stiffener (17) and lower stiffener (18) are secured to the interior of side sheet structures (11,12). Stiffeners 17 and 18 may have a cross-sectional shape as illustrated by stiffener (39) in FIG. 6. Stiffener (39) includes a mounting flange (41) and an opposed flange (42) which have free edge portions. Beads or curls (44,46) are formed on the free edge portions for reinforcement. |
136 |
Method of making a vehicle chassis of extruded links and couplers |
US10263171 |
2002-10-02 |
US20030030303A1 |
2003-02-13 |
Daniel
E.
Panoz |
A method of manufacturing a vehicle chassis and a vehicle chassis that is formed in modules with couplers for connecting extruded beams. The method includes extruding a plurality of beams and a plurality of couplers that are loosely assembled together to a fixture having locating pins that are received in pockets formed on the couplers and securing the beams and couplers together to form a chassis. The chassis includes a center chassis module to which the fire wall bulkhead and passenger compartment are secured, a drive train and front suspension module to which the engine transmission and front suspension are attached, a rear suspension module to which the rear suspension and gas tank are secured, and front and rear crush modules including the front and rear bumper assemblies, respectively. Couplers used in forming the chassis include a central portion having an outer wall and a plurality of inner walls extending inwardly from the outer wall to the pocket. At least two receptacles are connected to and extend outwardly from the central portion of the coupler. The receptacles are sized to be received in a central opening of one of the extruded beams. |
137 |
Extruded vehicle chassis and method of making a chassis |
US09625593 |
2000-07-26 |
US06470990B1 |
2002-10-29 |
Daniel E. Panoz |
A method of manufacturing a vehicle chassis and a vehicle chassis that is formed in modules with couplers for connecting extruded beams. The method includes extruding a plurality of beams and a plurality of couplers that are loosely assembled together to a fixture having locating pins that are received in pockets formed on the couplers and securing the beams and couplers together to form a chassis. The chassis includes a center chassis module to which the fire wall bulkhead and passenger compartment are secured, a drive train and front suspension module to which the engine transmission and front suspension are attached, a rear suspension module to which the rear suspension and gas tank are secured, and front and rear crush modules including the front and rear bumper assemblies, respectively. Couplers used in forming the chassis include a central portion having an outer wall and a plurality of inner walls extending inwardly from the outer wall to the pocket. At least two receptacles are connected to and extend outwardly from the central portion of the coupler. The receptacles are sized to be received in a central opening of one of the extruded beams. |
138 |
Production of vehicles |
US09964675 |
2001-09-28 |
US20020042996A1 |
2002-04-18 |
Manabu
Sato; Masato
Takiguchi; Kouji
Sato; Kouichi
Ohira; Masami
Tashiro; Takashi
Matsuoka; Takamitsu
Tajima; Kenji
Kanamori |
A compact vehicle production line is disclosed. The production line comprises a floor process of assembling floor constituent parts. Each is an aluminum alloy extrusion die cast product, which has been made, in an extrusion die casting process, by forcing molten aluminum alloy through a mold cavity in a predetermined direction. The assembled floor constituent parts are welded to make a floor structure. In an interior parts mount process, interior parts are to the floor structure to make a floor unit. In a body main process, each of two body side structures are trimmed to make a body side unit. A roof structure is trimmed to make a roof unit. The floor unit, the body side units, and the roof unit are assembled. The assembly is welded to make a body unit. In a running parts mount process, an under running unit is mounted to the body unit. In an exterior parts attachment process, color body panels are attached to the body unit. |
139 |
Production of vehicles |
US09964674 |
2001-09-28 |
US20020014008A1 |
2002-02-07 |
Manabu
Sato; Masato
Takiguchi; Kouji
Sato; Kouichi
Ohira; Masami
Tashiro; Takashi
Matsuoka; Takamitsu
Tajima; Kenji
Kanamori |
A compact vehicle production line is disclosed. The production line comprises a floor process of assembling floor constituent parts. Each is an aluminum alloy extrusion die cast product, which has been made, in an extrusion die casting process, by forcing molten aluminum alloy through a mold cavity in a predetermined direction. The assembled floor constituent parts are welded to make a floor structure. In an interior parts mount process, interior parts are to the floor structure to make a floor unit. In a body main process, each of two body side structures are trimmed to make a body side unit. A roof structure is trimmed to make a roof unit. The floor unit, the body side units, and the roof unit are assembled. The assembly is welded to make a body unit. In a running parts mount process, an under running unit is mounted to the body unit. In an exterior parts attachment process, color body panels are attached to the body unit. |
140 |
Cab frame for an agricultural machine |
US09753631 |
2001-01-03 |
US20020011743A1 |
2002-01-31 |
Salvini
Tiziano |
A frame of a cab for an agricultural machine comprises a series of uprights (18) carrying at their tops a structure for supporting the roof (16). The frame comprises a first series of sectional elements (18), with cross sections equal to one another, forming the aforesaid uprights (18), and a second series of sectional elements (32), with cross sections equal to one another, forming the aforesaid roof-supporting structure (16). |