IP Library Granted Patent US 9,469,350
Granted Patent B2
US 9,469,350 · App. 14/981,772 · Granted Oct 18, 2016

Underbody manufacturing method and vehicle underbody

Inventor: Tai-Te Wu (Taoyuan, TW)
Assignee: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LTD.
B62D25/20B21D5/00B23K31/02B62D27/023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,469,350
App. No.
14/981,772
Granted
Oct 18, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides an underbody manufacturing method and a vehicle underbody. The method includes determining dimensions for the vehicle underbody and underbody panels, selecting the underbody panels, putting the underbody panels in a stamping die for stamping to form concave and convex parts on the underbody panels, welding the stamped underbody panels to splice the underbody in the length direction and/or the width direction, so as to make the underbody reach the determined length and width. Underbodies with various dimensions can be formed using the same stamping die, and accordingly, die cost is saved and vehicle development time is shortened, which provides convenience for diversified body designs on the whole.

Claims (49)

1. A method for manufacturing a vehicle underbody, the method comprising:

determining dimensions for the vehicle underbody, the dimensions for the vehicle underbody including a length and a width;

determining dimensions for at least two underbody panels, wherein the dimensions for the at least two underbody panels are determined based on the dimensions for the vehicle underbody;

selecting the at least two underbody panels;

putting the at least two underbody panels in a stamping die for stamping to form concave parts and convex parts on the at least two underbody panels; and

welding the stamped at least two underbody panels to form the vehicle underbody which is spliced by the at least two underbody panels in the length direction and/or the width direction, so as to make the vehicle underbody reach the determined length and width.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein putting the at least two underbody panels in the stamping die for stamping includes putting the at least two underbody panels in the same stamping die for stamping.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the determined dimensions of each underbody panel in the at least two underbody panels is smaller than or equal to that of the largest underbody panel capable of being stamped by the stamping die; and

the determined length and width of the vehicle underbody is larger than or equal to that of the largest underbody panel capable of being stamped by the stamping die.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the at least two underbody panels includes cutting a plate material with a larger dimension to form each of the at least two underbody panels.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

the vehicle underbody is spliced by the at least two underbody panels;

the determined length of the vehicle underbody is larger than the length of the largest underbody panel capable of being stamped by the stamping die;

selecting the two underbody panels includes cutting a plate material along the length direction to form each of the at least two underbody panels; and

the stamped at least two underbody panels are welded along the width direction to splice the vehicle underbody.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

the vehicle underbody is spliced by the at least two underbody panels;

the determined width of the vehicle underbody is larger than the width of the largest underbody panel capable of being stamped by the stamping die;

selecting the two underbody panels includes cutting a plate material along the width direction to form each of the at least two underbody panels; and

the stamped at least two underbody panels are welded along the length direction to splice the vehicle underbody.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adding one or more structural reinforcement cross beams in the width direction of the vehicle underbody.

8. The method claim 1 , further comprising:

adding a side sill to each side of the vehicle underbody along the length direction of the vehicle underbody.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein welding the stamped at least two underbody panels includes welding concave parts of any two adjacent underbody panels, and the welding surface is located on the upper sides of the concave parts.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dimensions for the at least two underbody panels are determined based on the dimensions for the vehicle underbody and the arrangement of the seats that are loaded on the vehicle underbody.

11. A vehicle underbody comprising:

at least two underbody panels, wherein the dimensions for the at least two underbody panels are determined based on the dimensions for the vehicle underbody, the dimensions for the vehicle underbody including a determined length and width;

concave parts and convex parts on the at least two underbody panels, wherein the concave parts and convex parts are formed using a stamping die;

a welded joint between the at least two underbody panels, forming the vehicle underbody, wherein the vehicle underbody is spliced by the at least two underbody panels in the length direction and/or the width direction, so as to make the vehicle underbody reach the determined length and width.

12. The vehicle underbody of claim 11 , wherein the concave parts and convex parts on the at least two underbody panels are formed using the same stamping die.

13. The vehicle underbody of claim 12 , wherein:

the determined dimensions of each underbody panel in the at least two underbody panels is smaller than or equal to that of the largest underbody panel capable of being stamped by the stamping die; and

the determined length and width of the vehicle underbody is larger than or equal to that of the largest underbody panel capable of being stamped by the stamping die.

14. The vehicle underbody of claim 11 , wherein the at least two underbody panels are cut from a plate material with a larger dimension to form each of the at least two underbody panels.

15. The vehicle underbody of claim 13 , wherein:

the vehicle underbody is spliced by the at least two underbody panels;

the determined length of the vehicle underbody is larger than the length of the largest underbody panel capable of being stamped by the stamping die;

the at least two underbody panels are cut from a plate material along the length direction to form each of the two underbody panels; and

the at least two underbody panels are welded along the width direction to splice the vehicle underbody.

16. The vehicle underbody of claim 13 , wherein:

the vehicle underbody is spliced by the at least two underbody panels;

the determined width of the vehicle underbody is larger than the width of the largest underbody panel capable of being stamped by the stamping die;

the two underbody panels are cut from a plate material along the width direction to form each of the at least two underbody panels; and

the at least two underbody panels are welded along the length direction to splice the vehicle underbody.

17. The vehicle underbody of claim 11 , further comprising:

one or more structural reinforcement cross beams in the width direction of the vehicle underbody.

18. The vehicle underbody of claim 11 , wherein the welded joint joins concave parts of any two adjacent underbody panels, and the welded joint is located on the upper sides of the concave parts.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2017
From: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LIMITED
To: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 042084/0334 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2015
From: WU, TAI-TE
To: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LTD.
Reel/Frame 037370/0505 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14748210 · Jun 23, 2015
Provisional Application 62150848 · Apr 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62133991 · Mar 16, 2015
Related Publication 20160272254A1 · Sep 22, 2016