Vehicle body structure capable of modular assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12291076-B2
Application number	US-202318530982-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2023
Priority date	May 12, 2023
Publication date	May 6, 2025
Grant date	May 6, 2025

Abstract

A vehicle body structure capable of modular assembly includes a chassis frame extending from a body frame forming a vehicle body. A corner module is fastened to a side portion of the chassis frame. The corner module includes a knuckle fastened to a wheel, an upper arm positioned between a top end portion of the knuckle and a module bracket mounted on the chassis frame, and an elastic member mounted between the module bracket and a bottom end portion of the knuckle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle body structure configured for modular assembly, the vehicle body structure comprising:
a body frame forming a vehicle body;
a chassis frame extending from the body frame; and
a corner module fastened to a side portion of the chassis frame,
wherein the corner module includes:
a knuckle fastened to a wheel;
an upper arm positioned between a top end portion of the knuckle and a module bracket mounted on the chassis frame; and
an elastic member fastened between the module bracket and a bottom end portion of the knuckle.

2. The vehicle body structure of claim 1 , further including a shock absorber including a first end portion coupled to the upper arm and a second end portion fastened to an elastic bracket located on the elastic member which the module bracket overlaps.

3. The vehicle body structure of claim 2 , further including a bush portion located between the elastic member and the elastic bracket.

4. The vehicle body structure of claim 3 , wherein the bush portion includes:
one or more fixing holes extending through the elastic member, the elastic bracket, and the module bracket;
one or more fixing members inserted into the one or more fixing holes, respectively, to integrally fix the elastic member, the elastic bracket, and the module bracket; and
a high-strength bush area located between the elastic bracket and the elastic member and around at least one fixing hole among the one or more fixing holes.

5. The vehicle body structure of claim 4 , wherein the elastic member is configured to be deformed with respect to the high-strength bush area in response to a torsional strength applied to the elastic member.

6. The vehicle body structure of claim 2 , further including an upper bracket mounted on the upper arm to which the shock absorber is fastened.

7. The vehicle body structure of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is configured so that a width thereof decreases and a thickness thereof increases as being more distant from the module bracket.

8. The vehicle body structure of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is formed of a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer material.

9. The vehicle body structure of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member extends at an angle at which the module bracket is provided to be fastened to the bottom end portion of the knuckle.

10. The vehicle body structure of claim 1 , further including a steering driving portion mounted on the chassis frame to be fastened to the knuckle.

11. The vehicle body structure of claim 1 , wherein the module bracket includes:
a fixed bracket fastened to the chassis frame; and
a pivotable bracket including a first end portion pivotably fastened to the fixed bracket and a second end portion fastened to the elastic member.

12. A vehicle body structure configured for modular assembly, the vehicle body structure comprising:
a body frame forming a vehicle body;
a chassis frame extending from the body frame; and
a corner module fastened to a side portion of the chassis frame,
wherein the corner module includes:
a knuckle fastened to a wheel;
an upper arm positioned between a top end portion of the knuckle and a module bracket mounted on the chassis frame;
an elastic member fastened between the module bracket and a bottom end portion of the knuckle; and
a shock absorber including a first end portion coupled to the upper arm and a second end portion fastened to an elastic bracket located on the elastic member which the module bracket overlaps.

13. The vehicle body structure of claim 12 , further including a bush portion located between the elastic member and the elastic bracket.

14. The vehicle body structure of claim 13 , wherein the bush portion includes:
one or more fixing holes extending through the elastic member, the elastic bracket, and the module bracket;
one or more fixing members inserted into the one or more fixing holes, respectively, to integrally fix the elastic member, the elastic bracket, and the module bracket; and
a high-strength bush area located between the elastic bracket and the elastic member and around at least one fixing hole among the one or more fixing holes.

15. The vehicle body structure of claim 14 , wherein the elastic member is configured to be deformed with respect to the high-strength bush area in response to a torsional strength applied to the elastic member.

16. The vehicle body structure of claim 12 , further including an upper bracket mounted on the upper arm to which the shock absorber is fastened.

17. The vehicle body structure of claim 12 , wherein the elastic member is configured so that a width thereof decreases and a thickness thereof increases as being more distant from the module bracket.

18. The vehicle body structure of claim 12 , wherein the elastic member is formed of a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer material.

19. The vehicle body structure of claim 12 , wherein the elastic member extends at an angle at which the module bracket is provided to be fastened to the bottom end portion of the knuckle.

20. The vehicle body structure of claim 12 , wherein the module bracket includes:
a fixed bracket fastened to the chassis frame; and
a pivotable bracket including a first end portion pivotably fastened to the fixed bracket and a second end portion fastened to the elastic member.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Univ Inha Res & Business Found

Inventors

• Kong Do Hyun
• Park Jeong Hwan
• An Chang Seop
• Kang Jae Young
• Seo Dong Woo
• Yun Hui Seung

Classifications

• B60G2204/41

  Elastic mounts, e.g. bushings · CPC title

• B60G2204/4302

  for fixing suspension arm on the vehicle body or chassis · CPC title

• B60G2206/7101

  Fiber-reinforced plastics [FRP] · CPC title

• B60G13/005

  characterised by the mounting on the axle or suspension arm of the damper unit · CPC title

• B60G7/006

  Attaching arms to sprung or unsprung part of vehicle, characterised by comprising attachment means controlled by an external actuator, e.g. a fluid or electrical motor (B62D7/146 takes precedence) · CPC title