초록 ▼

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

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 frame member thereof. The rigid suspension mount is rigidly secured to the associated side frame member at the at least one longitudinal area having the transverse cross-section defined by the modified peripheral configuration increased by more than 5% of the original cross-section.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A frame structure for connection with at least one other frame structure used in forming a frame assembly for a motor vehicle frame, comprising:a tubular frame member formed to have a substantially planar wall and an opposite wall, said walls having interior and exterior

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A frame structure for connection with at least one other frame structure used in forming a frame assembly for a motor vehicle frame, comprising:a tubular frame member formed to have a substantially planar wall and an opposite wall, said walls having interior and exterior surfaces, said tubular frame member having aligned openings in the planar and the opposite walls; andan integrally formed fastener receiving sleeve extending between said aligned openings and constructed and arranged to receive a fastener therethrough to enable said frame structure to be connected with said at least one other frame structure, said fastener receiving sleeve having one end thereof annularly welded to the interior surface of said planar wall in surrounding relation to one of said aligned openings, said fastener receiving sleeve including an intermediate portion extending from said one end through an interior of the frame member, said fastener receiving sleeve extending through an opposite one of said aligned openings so that an end of said fastener receiving sleeve opposite to said one end is disposed outwardly from said interior of the frame member, said opposite end of said fastener receiving sleeve having a radially outwardly extending flange integrally formed with said intermediate portion and disposed outwardly from said interior of the frame member to extend radially outwardly beyond a diameter of said opposite one of the aligned openings so as to be engaged by a head of said fastener used to connect said frame structure with said at least one other frame structure.