Vehicle chassis
US9211914B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 2009 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 19, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62D29/008
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A chassis (10) for a vehicle is disclosed which combines rigidity, speed of manufacture, and a small environmental footprint. Such a chassis comprises a framework of interconnected tubular sections (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 28) and at least one sheet (50) bonded to the framework. Laser cutting, CNC bending, and computer-controlled welding mean that the required production time can be kept to 120 seconds and the rigidity of the structure as a whole is sufficient. Such a chassis also has an exceptionally low carbon footprint. The sheet can be metallic, such as Aluminium or Aluminium honeycomb, or it can be a composite material such as one comprising a paper-based core and a fibre-reinforced plastics coating. The sheet can be non-flat, and is preferably a concave geometry such as a tub. It can be composed of a plurality of sections, ideally joined by a method allowing a positional tolerance so that any tolerance in the construction of the framework can be accommodated. A corresponding method of manufacturing a chassis is also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.