Modular space frame
US6533348B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 7, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 7, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K2101/06
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle space frame for constructing a motor vehicle includes a body module and a front module. The body module includes a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending main side rail structures and a pair of rearward-most upright structures each being connected to a respective main side rail structure and extending upwardly therefrom to form a pair of rearward-most pillars thereon. The body module further includes a pair of hydroformed upper longitudinal members each being defined by an outwardly deformed tubular metallic wall fixed in a predetermined irregular exterior surface configuration and each including a pillar-forming portion and a longitudinally extending portion. Each pillar-forming portion is connected to a respective main side rail structure and extends upwardly therefrom to form an A pillar and each longitudinally extending portion is connected at an opposite end portion thereof with an associated one of the, rearward-most pillars, thereby defining, a longitudinal length between the associated A- and rearward-most pillars. A plurality of connecting structures are included in the body module and are constructed and arranged to secure the main side rail structur…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.