Integrated steering gear, frame member and engine mount base

1. An integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base for a vehicle, comprising:

an elongate housing that includes:

at least one sidewall,

a pair of opposing endwalls formed as a unitary piece with the at least one sidewall,

an aperture in each endwall,

a hollow portion extending between the apertures of the endwalls, the hollow portion being enveloped by the at least one sidewall, and

at least one mounting portion proximate each of a first housing end and a second opposing housing end, the at least one mounting portion extending from the at least one sidewall;

a steering gear comprising a steering gear input and a pair of opposingly-oriented tie rods, the steering gear being at least partially disposed within the hollow portion of the housing such that the steering gear input and the tie rods extend from the interior of the housing; and

an engine mount base integrated into the housing, the engine mount base being sized and shaped to receive an engine mount,

the integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base being mountable to a support frame of the vehicle to function as a subframe member of said support frame.

2. The integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of receptacles in the engine mount base to couple the engine mount to the housing.

3. The integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base of claim 1 , further comprising:

an opening in the housing for accessing an interior portion of the housing; and

a cover detachably coupled to the housing to selectably close off the opening.

4. The integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base of claim 1 wherein the housing further includes at least one accessory mount.

5. The integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base of claim 4 wherein the accessory mount further includes an accessory receptacle.

6. The integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base of claim 1 , wherein the housing is made from metal.

7. The integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base of claim 1 wherein the housing is made from a unitary piece.

8. The integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base of claim 1 wherein the housing is made from a plurality of subcomponents.

9. The integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base of claim 1 wherein the housing is produced by at least one of forging, casting, stamping or machining.

10. The integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base of claim 1 wherein the at least one mounting portion is a unitary portion of the at least one sidewall.

11. An integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base for a vehicle, comprising:

an elongate metal housing that includes:

at least one sidewall,

a pair of opposing endwalls formed as a unitary piece with the at least one sidewall,

an aperture in each endwall,

a hollow portion extending between the apertures of the endwalls, the hollow portion being enveloped by the at least one sidewall, and

at least one mounting portion proximate each of a first housing end and a second opposing housing end, the at least one mounting portion extending from the at least one sidewall;

a steering gear comprising a steering gear input and a pair of opposingly-oriented tie rods, the steering gear being at least partially disposed within the hollow portion of the housing such that the steering gear input and the tie rods extend from the interior of the housing;

an engine mount base integrated into the housing, the engine mount base being sized and shaped to receive an engine mount; and

a plurality of receptacles in the engine mount base,

the integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base being mountable to a support frame of the vehicle to function as a subframe member of said support frame.

12. The integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base of claim 11 wherein the at least one mounting portion is a unitary portion of the at least one sidewall.

13. A method of integrating a steering gear and frame structure with an engine mount, comprising the steps of:

providing an elongate housing that includes:

at least one sidewall,

a pair of opposing endwalls formed as a unitary piece with the at least one sidewall,

an aperture in each endwall,

a hollow portion extending between the apertures of the endwalls, the hollow portion being enveloped by the at least one sidewall, and

at least one mounting portion proximate each of a first housing end and a second opposing housing end, the at least one mounting portion extending from the at least one sidewall;

providing a steering gear comprising a steering gear input and a pair of opposingly-oriented tie rods;

integrating an engine mount base into the housing, the engine mount base being sized and shaped to receive an engine mount; and

assembling the steering gear within the hollow portion of the housing such that the steering gear input and the tie rods extend from the interior of the housing,

the integrated steering gear, frame structure and engine mount base being mountable to a support frame of a vehicle to function as a subframe member of said support frame.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of providing a plurality of receptacles in the engine mount base to secure the engine mount to the housing.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:

forming an opening in the housing for accessing an interior portion of the housing; and

detachably coupling a cover to the housing to selectably close off the opening.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of providing the housing with at least one accessory mount.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of forming an accessory receptacle in the accessory mount.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one mounting portion is a unitary portion of the at least one sidewall.