Granted Patent B1

US 6,896,319 · App. 10/725,065 · Granted May 24, 2005

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. A modular body for a vehicle having a chassis separate from the modular body, the modular body comprising:

a first module having a first B-pillar interface, the first module having an underbody portion and being configured to assemble on the chassis; and

a second module having a second B-pillar interface, the second module having an underbody portion and being configured to assemble on the chassis;

wherein the first and second modules are joined at the first and second B-pillar interfaces defining a B-pillar thereat, the B-pillar defining a separation between passenger compartments.

2. The modular body of claim 1 , wherein:

the first module includes two side portions;

the second module includes two side portions; and

the underbody portions of the first and second modules make up an underbody portion of the vehicle.

3. The modular body of claim 2 , wherein:

the first module includes a top portion; and

the second module includes a top portion.

4. The modular body of claim 1 , wherein the second module further includes a third B-pillar interface, and further comprising:

a third module having a fourth B-pillar interface, the third module being configured to assemble on the chassis;

wherein the second and third modules are joined at the third and fourth B-pillar interfaces defining a second B-pillar thereat, the second B-pillar defining a separation between passenger compartments.

5. The modular body of claim 1 , wherein the first B-pillar interface is outboard of the second B-pillar interface.

6. The modular body of claim 1 , wherein the first and second B-pillar interfaces are slidably engaged with each other.

7. The modular body of claim 6 , further comprising a weld at the B-pillar interfaces.

8. A modular body for a vehicle having a chassis separate from the modular body, the modular body comprising:

a first module defining a first passenger compartment and having a first B-pillar interface, the first module having an underbody portion and being configured to assemble on the chassis; and

a second module defining a second passenger compartment and having a second B-pillar interface, the second module having an underbody portion being configured to assemble on the chassis;

wherein the first B-pillar interface is disposed proximate the second B-pillar interface defining a B-pillar thereat, the B-pillar defining a separation between the first and second passenger compartments.

9. The modular body of claim 8 , further comprising:

a complete underbody made up from the underbody portion of the first module and the underbody portion of the second module.

10. The modular body of claim 8 , wherein the first module has a first A-pillar interface, and further comprising:

a third module defining an engine compartment and having a second A-pillar interface, the third module being configured to assemble on the chassis;

wherein the first A-pillar interface is disposed proximate the second A-pillar interface defining an A-pillar thereat.

11. The modular body of claim 10 , wherein the second module has a first C-pillar interface, and further comprising:

a fourth module defining a storage compartment and having a second C-pillar interface, the fourth module being configured to assemble on the chassis;

wherein the first C-pillar interface is disposed proximate the second C-pillar interface defining a C-pillar thereat.

12. The modular body of claim 11 , further comprising a weld at the A-pillar, the B-pillar, the C-pillar, or any combination thereof comprising at least one of the foregoing pillars.

13. A method for assembling a vehicle body for a vehicle having a chassis separate from the body, the method comprising:

engaging a first module having a first B-pillar interface with a second module having a second B-pillar interface such that the first and second B-pillar interfaces are disposed proximate each other, the first module having an underbody portion and defining a first passenger compartment, the second module having an underbody portion and defining a second passenger compartment; and

joining together the first and second B-pillar interfaces defining a B-pillar thereat.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the joining comprises at least one of mechanical, adhesive, adhesive-mechanical, metallurgical, and adhesive-metallurgical bonding.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first module includes a first A-pillar interface, and further comprising:

engaging a third module having a second A-pillar interface with the first module such that the first and second A-pillar interfaces are disposed proximate each other, the third module defining an engine compartment; and

joining together the first and second A-pillar interfaces defining an A-pillar thereat.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second module includes a first C-pillar interface, and further comprising:

engaging a fourth module having a second C-pillar interface with the second module such that the first and second C-pillar interfaces are disposed proximate each other, the fourth module defining a storage compartment; and

joining together the first and second C-pillar interfaces defining a C-pillar thereat.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the joining together the A-pillar and the C-pillar interfaces comprises at least one of mechanical, adhesive, adhesive-mechanical, metallurgical, and adhesive-metallurgical bonding.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the joining comprises slidably engaging the first and second B-pillar interfaces with each other.

19. A vehicle, comprising:

a chassis; and

a modular body structurally distinct from the chassis, the modular body being disposed on the chassis;

wherein the modular body comprises:

a first module having a first B-pillar interface, the first module having two side portions and an underbody portion; and

a second module having a second B-pillar interface, the second module having two side portions and an underbody portion;

wherein the first and second modules are joined at the first and second B-pillar interfaces defining a B-pillar thereat, the B-pillar defining a separation between passenger compartments;

wherein the underbody portions of the first and second modules make up an underbody portion of the vehicle that is disposed on the chassis.

Assignments (13)