Shell-type frame unit, method for producing a frame unit, and use of a frame unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10689054-B2
Application number	US-201615752772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2016
Priority date	Aug 20, 2015
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A frame unit for a two-wheeled vehicle may comprise a main frame. The main frame may be formed by a first partial shell and a second partial shell that is joined to the first partial shell. The first partial shell and the second partial shell may be produced from a material comprising steel. The main frame may further comprise an upper tube, a lower tube, a seat tube, and/or a head tube. A rear section may be joined to the main frame and may include a chain stay and/or a seat stay. Further, each of the first and second partial shells may form a lateral half of the main frame, and the first and second partial shells may have a C-shaped cross section. The frame unit avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and offers a high degree of design freedom.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A frame unit for a two-wheeled vehicle, the frame unit comprising:
a main frame that comprises a first partial shell and a second partial shell joined to the first partial shell at least for a portion substantially along a primary loading direction, the main frame further including an integrally formed head tube;
a rear section, separately formed from the main frame, the rear section comprising at least one closed profile portion; and
a bottom bracket housing, separately formed from the main frame and the rear section;
wherein the main frame, the rear section and the bottom bracket housing are joined together and are comprised of steel.

2. The frame unit of claim 1 wherein the joined first and second partial shells together form an upper tube, a lower tube, and a seat tube.

3. The frame unit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first partial shell or the second partial shell is deep drawn.

4. The frame unit of claim 1 wherein a thermal weld joins the first partial shell and the second partial shell.

5. The frame unit of claim 1 comprising a cable conduit that extends at least for a portion in the main frame between the first partial shell and the second partial shell.

6. The frame unit of claim 1 , further comprising a bearing bushing arranged at the head tube.

7. The frame unit of claim 1 wherein the first and second partial shells comprise at least one of a high-strength steel or a steel composite material.

8. The frame unit of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of (a) a drive unit or a portion thereof and (b) an energy accumulator or a tank therefor disposed between the first partial shell and the second partial shell in the main frame.

9. The frame unit of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second partial shells forms a lateral half of the main frame, wherein the first and second partial shells have a C-shaped cross section.

10. The frame unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one closed profile portion comprises at least one of a chain stay and a seat stay.

11. The frame unit of claim 1 , further comprising a seatpost integrally formed on the main frame and a seat clamp disposed on the seatpost.

12. A method for producing a frame unit comprising a main frame for a two-wheeled vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a first partial shell and a second partial shell, wherein the first and second partial shells comprise steel, one of the first and second partial shells comprising an integrally formed head tube;
joining the first partial shell and the second partial shell substantially along a primary loading direction to form the main frame;
encasing a separately formed bottom bracket housing by the first and second partial shells; and
joining a rear section to the main frame and the bottom bracket, the rear section comprising at least one closed profile portion including at least one of a chain stay and a seat stay.

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe Ag
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Keutz Andreas
• Chan Jia-Uei
• Borucki Melanie
• Nierhoff Daniel
• Schirmer Matthias
• Rott Oliver

Classifications

• B62K19/08 Primary

  made from sheet · CPC title

• B62K19/20

  welded, soldered, or brazed · CPC title

• B21D53/86

  other parts for bicycles or motorcycles · CPC title