IP Library Granted Patent US 8,177,291
Granted Patent B2
US 8,177,291 · App. 12/376,279 · Granted May 15, 2012

Front-end frame concept for the body structure on a multiple platform

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,177,291
App. No.
12/376,279
Granted
May 15, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A longitudinal beam, which is provided for a chassis of a motor vehicle, has a curved section of a tubular member part horizontal reinforcement element. The reinforcement element is directly associated with the highest body of a lower horizontal limb of the tubular member part and is connected to an upper horizontal limb of the tubular member part. This draws the curved section in a crash of the vehicle a high degree of stability.

Claims (45)

1. A longitudinal member for a body of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a tubular member part extending in a direction of travel with a straight section of the tubular member part;

a curved section of the tubular member part guided over a wheel recess;

a reinforcement element located inside the curved section of the tubular member part and arranged straight through at least a partial area of the curved section and between a lower horizontal limb to an upper horizontal limb of the tubular member part; and

an end of the reinforcement element pointing in a opposite direction to the direction of travel abuts against the upper horizontal limb of the tubular member part.

2. The longitudinal member according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is guided from the lower horizontal limb to the upper horizontal limb opposite to an intended direction of travel of the motor vehicle.

3. The longitudinal member according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is connected directly to a substantially highest point of the lower horizontal limb of the curved section.

4. The longitudinal member according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is arranged substantially horizontally in the tubular member part.

5. The longitudinal member according claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is configured to have a U-shaped cross section.

6. The longitudinal member according to claim 5 , wherein a lateral web of the reinforcement element, which is configured to have the U-Shaped cross section, is fastened to a vertical limb of the tubular member part.

7. The longitudinal member according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element has a central web and the central web is fastened to a flange disposed on the lower horizontal limb of the tubular member part.

8. The longitudinal member according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element comprises at least two interconnected reinforcement parts and each of the two interconnected reinforcement parts comprisesa lateral web.

9. The longitudinal member according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is connected directly to an engine mounting.

10. The longitudinal member according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element has a mounting flange disposed in alignment with a mounting eye of the tubular member part.

11. The longitudinal member according claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is configured as fork-shaped at one end and is guided with a first fork element as far as the upper horizontal limb and with a second fork element as far as the lower horizontal limb.

12. A longitudinal member for a body of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a tubular member part extending in a direction of travel with a straight section of the tubular member part;

a curved section of the tubular member part guided over a wheel recess; and

a reinforcement element located inside the curved section of the tubular member part and arranged straight through at least a partial area of the curved section and between a lower horizontal limb to an upper horizontal limb of the tubular member part,

wherein the reinforcement element is connected directly to a substantially highest point of the lower horizontal limb of the curved section,

wherein an end of the reinforcement element pointing in an opposite direction to the direction of travel abuts against the upper horizontal limb of the tubular member part.

13. The longitudinal member according to claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement element is guided from the lower horizontal limb to the upper horizontal limb opposite to an intended direction of travel of the motor vehicle.

14. The longitudinal member according to claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement element is arranged substantially horizontally in the tubular member part.

15. The longitudinal member according claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is configured to have a U-shaped cross section.

16. The longitudinal member according to claim 15 , wherein a lateral web of the reinforcement element, which is configured to have the U-Shaped cross section, is fastened to a vertical limb of the tubular member part.

17. The longitudinal member according to claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement element has a central web and the central web is fastened to a flange disposed on the lower horizontal limb of the tubular member part.

18. The longitudinal member according to claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement element comprises at least two interconnected reinforcement parts and each of the two interconnected reinforcement parts comprises a lateral web.

19. The longitudinal member according to claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement element is connected directly to an engine mounting.

20. The longitudinal member according to claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement element has a mounting flange disposed in alignment with a mounting eye of the tubular member part.

21. The longitudinal member according claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement element is configured as fork-shaped at one end and is guided with a first fork element as far as the upper horizontal limb and with a second fork element as far as the lower horizontal limb.

22. A longitudinal member for a body of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a tubular member part extending in a direction of travel with a straight section of the tubular member part;

a curved section of the tubular member part guided over a wheel recess; and

a reinforcement element located inside the curved section of the tubular member part and arranged straight through at least a partial area of the curved section and between a lower horizontal limb to an upper horizontal limb of the tubular member part,

wherein the end of the reinforcement element pointing in the opposite direction to the direction of travel has a fork element connected to adjacent regions of the upper horizontal limb.

23. The longitudinal member according to claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement element is guided from the lower horizontal limb to the upper horizontal limb opposite to an intended direction of travel of the motor vehicle.

24. The longitudinal member according to claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement element is connected directly to a substantially highest point of the lower horizontal limb of the curved section.

25. The longitudinal member according to claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement element is arranged substantially horizontally in the tubular member part.

26. The longitudinal member according claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement element is configured to have a U-shaped cross section.

27. The longitudinal member according to claim 26 , wherein a lateral web of the reinforcement element, which is configured to have the U-Shaped cross section, is fastened to a vertical limb of the tubular member part.

28. The longitudinal member according to claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement element has a central web and the central web is fastened to a flange disposed on the lower horizontal limb of the tubular member part.

29. The longitudinal member according to claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement element comprises at least two interconnected reinforcement parts and each of the two interconnected reinforcement parts comprises a lateral web.

30. The longitudinal member according to claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement element is connected directly to an engine mounting.

31. The longitudinal member according to claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement element has a mounting flange disposed in alignment with a mounting eye of the tubular member part.

32. The longitudinal member according claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement element is configured as fork-shaped at one end and is guided with a first fork element as far as the upper horizontal limb and with a second fork element as far as the lower horizontal limb.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0789 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0245 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0515 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0091 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025246/0056 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0048 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023201/0118 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2009
From: GOSOLITS, BERND; VISINESCU, RADU-MIHAIL
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022871/0262 →