Cradle assembly
US5862877A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jan 26, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/75
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A cradle assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a pair of spaced side frame members, a front cross frame member and a rear cross frame member. The front cross frame member is connected with front ends of the side frame members. The rear cross frame member extends between rear ends of the side frame members. The frame members are formed from tubular metal blanks by a hydroforming process in which each blank has fluid pressure provided internally thereto and thereby radially expanded so that the frame members have a peripheral configuration modified with respect to an original peripheral configuration of the associated blanks. The side frame members have the amount of metal per unit length varied during the hydroforming thereof so as to present at least one longitudinal area at which i) a transverse cross-section defined by the modified peripheral configuration is increased by more than 5% of an original cross-section and ii) the amount of metal per unit length is greater than at least some other areas of the side frame members. The side frame members each have a rigid suspension mount structure constructed and arranged to mount a vehicle suspension member to the associated side fram…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.