Systems and methods for mounting objects to a structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10125799-B2
Application number	US-201514701880-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2015
Priority date	May 1, 2015
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A mounting system including a compressible structure having a first surface, a second surface, and at least one boss hole extending through the compressible structure from the first surface to the second surface. The system further including an interior plate mounted on the first surface of the compressible structure, wherein the interior plate includes a boss protruding from the interior plate and into the boss hole of the compressible structure, and an exterior plate mounted on the second surface of the compressible structure and secured to the interior plate against the boss of the interior plate, wherein the compressible structure is compressed a predetermined amount as a function of a length of the boss.

First claim

We claim:

1. A mounting system, comprising:
a compressible structure having a first surface, a second surface, and at least one boss hole extending through the compressible structure from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the compressible structure is a composite structure;
a first plate mounted on the first surface of the compressible structure, wherein the first plate includes a first boss protruding from the first plate and into the first boss hole of the compressible structure; and
a second plate mounted on the second surface of the compressible structure and secured to the first plate in contact with the first boss of the first plate;
wherein the compressible structure is compressed a predetermined amount as a function of a length of the first boss,
wherein the first plate includes at least one additional boss protruding from the first plate and into a corresponding additional boss hole of the compressible structure, and
wherein the compressible structure is a vehicle chassis, and the second plate includes one or more mounting structures configured to support objects mounted to the mounting system.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the compressible structure is a composite laminate structure of a bus and the composite laminate structure includes fiberglass.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second plate is mounted on the second surface of the composite structure with a fastener passing through the second plate and into the boss of the first plate.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first boss includes a circumferential flange extending radially outward from a main axis of the first boss such that the flange rests on an interior surface of the first plate.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second plate contacts an end surface of the first boss.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the compressible structure between the first plate and the second plate has a reduced thickness relative to a portion of the compressible structure that is not between the first plate and the second plate.

7. A system for mounting objects to a composite structure of a vehicle, comprising:
a composite structure having a first surface, a second surface, and a boss hole extending through the composite structure from the first surface to the second surface;
a first plate mounted on the first surface of the composite structure, wherein the first plate includes a boss protruding from the first plate and into the boss hole of the composite structure; and
a second plate mounted on the second surface of the composite structure, wherein an inner surface of the second plate rests on an end surface of the boss,
wherein the composite structure between the first plate and the second plate has a region of constant thickness, the region of constant thickness having a smaller thickness value than a portion of the composite structure that is not between the first plate and the second plate, and
wherein the second plate includes one or more mounting structures configured to support objects mounted to the system.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein a difference in thickness between the portion of the composite structure that is not between the first plate and the second plate and the region of constant thickness is a difference between: a) a thickness of the portion of the composite structure that is not between the first plate and the second plate, and b) a length of a portion of the boss within the boss hole of the composite structure.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second plate is mounted on the second surface of the composite structure with a fastener passing through the second plate and into the boss of the first plate.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the boss includes a circumferential flange extending radially outward from a main axis of the boss such that the flange rests on an outer surface of the first plate.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein a portion of the boss passes through a boss retaining hole in the first plate, and the portion includes a circumferential undercut radius.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more mounting structures of the second plate is configured to support a suspension system of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein composite structure includes fiberglass.

14. A method for installing a mounting system on a compressible structure, comprising:
coupling a first plate having a plurality of bosses to a first surface of the compressible structure such that each boss of the plurality of bosses protrudes from the first plate and into a corresponding boss hole of a plurality of boss holes in the compressible structure; and
coupling an second plate to a second surface of the compressible structure, wherein the coupling step includes (a) causing an inner surface of the second plate to contact an end surface of the boss, and (b) reducing a thickness of a portion of the compressible structure between the first plate and the second plate relative to a thickness of a portion of the compressible structure that is not between the first plate and the second plate, and
wherein the compressible structure includes fiberglass and is at least a portion of a vehicle chassis.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, before the step of coupling the second plate to the second surface of the compressible structure, coupling an installation fixture having at least one feature to the second surface of the compressible structure such that the at least one feature protrudes from the installation fixture and into one of the plurality of boss holes in the compressible structure, wherein a thickness of the feature corresponds to a desired compression of the compressible structure, wherein the desired compression is a function of the thickness of the feature.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the portion of the compressible structure between the first plate and the second plate is compressed by an amount equal to the thickness of the feature of the installation fixture.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising mounting a wheel suspension system to the second plate.

Assignees

• Proterra Inc

Inventors

• Schepmann Seneca A
• Golpe William

Classifications

• F16B5/01

  by means of fastening elements specially adapted for honeycomb panels · CPC title

• B60R11/00

  Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F16B2/065 Primary

  using screw-thread elements (F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16B5/0096 Primary

  by using permanent deformation · CPC title

• F16B5/0208

  using panel fasteners, i.e. permanent attachments allowing for quick assembly · CPC title