초록 ▼

An engine cradle is formed from tubular stock material using mechanical bending and hydroforming techniques. To facilitate connections with the body and frame assembly of the vehicle, hollow end portions of the engine cradle are subjected to an end forming operation. The result of the end forming op

An engine cradle is formed from tubular stock material using mechanical bending and hydroforming techniques. To facilitate connections with the body and frame assembly of the vehicle, hollow end portions of the engine cradle are subjected to an end forming operation. The result of the end forming operation is that the hollow end region of the engine cradle is deformed to have a generally U-shaped cross section having an aperture formed therethrough. The central portion of the U-shaped end region is flat so as to facilitate the connection of the engine cradle to the body and frame assembly of the vehicle. The central portion also has an effective wall thickness which is equal to the sum of the wall thicknesses of the upper and lower walls of the original hollow region. Similarly, the side portions of the U-shaped end region are also flat and have double wall thicknesses. Consequently, the U-shaped end region is quite strong and rigid, allowing it to be connected directly to the body and frame assembly of the vehicle without ancillary support devices, such as rigid spacers. The U-shaped end region also provides desirable lateral and torsional rigidity to the joint between it and the body and frame assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An engine cradle adapted to be connected to a vehicular body and frame assembly comprising:a generally U-shaped hollow member having a predetermined wall thickness and including a central portion having a pair of legs extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, each of

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An engine cradle adapted to be connected to a vehicular body and frame assembly comprising:a generally U-shaped hollow member having a predetermined wall thickness and including a central portion having a pair of legs extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, each of said legs terminating in an end region adapted to be connected to the vehicular body and frame assembly, one of said end regions being flattened so as to provide a double wall thickness throughout and to completely close said end region of said member; anda structure provided on said double wall thickness end region of said hollow member for facilitating the connection of said end region to the vehicular body and frame assembly.