A chassis frame (10) uses channels as right and left side rails (12, 14). A lower “clam” (22) has a horizontal bottom wall (26L) that bridges the side rails and is disposed against bottom flanges (20R, 20L) of the side rail channels and vertical side flanges (28L, 30L) that extend from
A chassis frame (10) uses channels as right and left side rails (12, 14). A lower “clam” (22) has a horizontal bottom wall (26L) that bridges the side rails and is disposed against bottom flanges (20R, 20L) of the side rail channels and vertical side flanges (28L, 30L) that extend from opposite sides of the bottom wall upward and against a face of a respective one of vertical walls (16R, 16L) of the channels that is exterior to the interior of the respective channel. An upper “clam” (24) is a mirror image of the lower “clam” and fits over the side rails. Spacer structure (30, 31, 38A, 38B, 40A, 40B) is disposed between and in abutment with the side rail channels and between and in abutment with the “clams” in inwardly spaced relation to the side rail channels. Fasteners (48, 50, 56, 62) fasten various parts together to complete the cross member that is formed by the “clams” and the spacer structure.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A chassis frame comprising: right and left side rails running lengthwise of the frame and comprising respective channels each of which has an interior bounded by a vertical wall and horizontal top and bottom flanges that extend from top and bottom of the vertical wall toward
What is claimed is: 1. A chassis frame comprising: right and left side rails running lengthwise of the frame and comprising respective channels each of which has an interior bounded by a vertical wall and horizontal top and bottom flanges that extend from top and bottom of the vertical wall toward corresponding flanges of the opposite side rail, a lower channel running lengthwise of the frame and comprising a horizontal bottom wall that bridges the side rails and is disposed against the bottom flanges of the side rail channels and vertical side flanges that extend from opposite sides of the bottom wall upward and against a face of a respective one of the vertical walls that is exterior to the interior of the respective channel; an upper channel running lengthwise of the frame and comprising a horizontal top wall that bridges the side rails and is disposed against the top flanges of the side rail channels and vertical side flanges that extend from opposite sides of the top wall downward and against the exterior face of a respective one of the vertical walls of the respective channel; and spacer structure disposed vertically between the upper and lower channels and horizontally between and in abutment with the side rail channels wherein the spacer structure comprises respective spacer structures at opposite lengthwise ends of the upper and lower channels. 2. A chassis frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the respective spacer structures comprises a channel having a vertical wall terminating in vertical flanges disposed against faces of vertical walls of the side rail channels that are on the interiors of the side rail channels. 3. A chassis frame as set forth in claim 2 wherein the vertical walls of the spacer structure channels are set inward of the lengthwise ends of the upper and lower channels and the vertical flanges of each spacer structure channel extend outward from the vertical wall of their respective spacer structure channel. 4. A chassis frame as set forth in claim 3 wherein the vertical flanges of each spacer structure channel extend outward from the vertical wall of their respective spacer structure channel to end substantially at the lengthwise ends of the upper and lower channels. 5. A chassis frame as set forth in claim 3 including fasteners that at each side rail fasten the respective vertical wall of the respective spacer structure channel, the vertical wall of the respective side rail channel, and the respective side flange of the lower channel together, and that at each side rail fasten the respective vertical wall of the respective spacer structure channel, the vertical wall of the respective side rail channel, and the respective side flange of the upper channel together. 6. A chassis frame as set forth in claim 5 including fasteners that fasten the horizontal bottom wall of the lower channel and the horizontal top wall of the upper channel together at locations that are outward of the vertical walls of the spacer structure channels and inward of the side rails, and wherein spacer structure includes tubes through which the fasteners pass. 7. A chassis frame as set forth in claim 2 wherein the spacer structure further comprises at least one plate disposed on an interior face of the horizontal bottom wall of the lower channel and having end edges disposed against free end edges of the bottom flanges of the side rail channels, and at least one plate disposed on an interior face of the horizontal top wall of the upper channel and having end edges disposed against free end edges of the top flanges of the side rail channels. 8. A chassis frame as set forth in claim 7 wherein the at least one plate disposed on an interior face of the horizontal top wall of the upper channel comprises two plates separated by a central opening in the horizontal top wall of the upper channel. 9. A chassis frame as set forth in claim 8 including a closure for opening and closing the central opening. 10. A chassis frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spacer structure comprises one or more pass-throughs extending lengthwise of the frame to provide passage for one or more of electrical, fluid, and pneumatic lines through the spacer structure. 11. A chassis frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spacer structure comprises a compartment disposed between the side rail channels and between lengthwise ends of the upper and lower channels. 12. A chassis frame as set forth in claim 11 comprising a closure that can be opened to provide access to the interior of the compartment. 13. A method of making a chassis frame comprising: disposing spacer structure between and in abutment with confronting interiors of right and left side rail channels and between and against free ends of confronting top and bottom flanges of the side rail channels, capturing the side rail channels and the spacer structure between a lower channel and an upper channel such that a bottom wall of the lower channel bridges the side rail channels and flanges that extend upward from opposite sides of the bottom wall are disposed against faces of respective ones of vertical walls of the side rail channels that are exterior to the interiors of the side rail channels, and such that a top wall of the upper channel bridges the side rail channels and flanges that extend downward from opposite sides of the top wall are disposed against the exterior faces of respective ones of the vertical walls of the side rail channels, and fastening the upper and lower channels to the side rail channels wherein the step of disposing spacer structure between and in abutment with confronting interiors of right and left side rail channels and between and against free ends of confronting top and bottom flanges of the side rail channels comprises: disposing respective spacer structures at opposite lengthwise ends of the upper and lower channels. 14. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the step of disposing spacer structure between and in abutment with confronting interiors of right and left side rail channels and between and against free ends of confronting top and bottom flanges of the side rail channels comprises: disposing a horizontal rectangular plate between and against the free ends of the bottom flanges of the side rail channels, disposing a horizontal rectangular plate between and against the free ends of the top flanges of the side rail channels, and disposing vertical flanges at opposite sides of a vertical channel between the top and bottom flanges of both side rail channels and against the vertical walls of the side rail channels so that the vertical channel spans the side rail channels. 15. A method as set forth in claim 13 further including using one or more fasteners to fasten together the spacer structure, the upper and lower channels, and the side rail channels.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (11)
Simboli, Andrew R., Closed channel structural member having internal reinforcement for vehicle body and frame assembly.
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