Frame assembly for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016347366-A1
Application number	US-201514930273-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 2, 2015
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle frame assembly has a first frame member defining a first frame member axis and a slot and having a first frame member connection portion adjacent the slot. A second frame member defining a second frame member axis has a projection and a second frame member connection portion adjacent thereto. The projection is received in the slot. The first frame member connection portion is connected to the second frame member connection portion to form a connection region in which the second frame member axis is disposed at a non-zero angle to the first frame member axis in the connection region. The method of assembling the frame includes inserting the projection into the slot, contacting the connection portions to each other to form the connection region with the members being positioned for connection with their axes disposed at a non-zero angle to each other, and connecting the connection portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A frame assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a first frame member defining a first frame member axis, the first frame member defining a slot and having a first frame member connection portion adjacent the slot; and a second frame member defining a second frame member axis, the second frame member having a projection and a second frame member connection portion adjacent the projection,
the projection being received in the slot,
the first frame member connection portion being connected to the second frame member connection portion to form a connection region,
the second frame member axis being disposed at a non-zero angle with respect to the first frame member axis in the connection region.

2 . The frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein the projection is one of: linear, T-shaped and L-shaped.

3 . The frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein the projection extending through the slot is disposed at a closed end of the slot.

4 . The frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the slot is a first slot; the projection is a first projection; one of the first and second members comprises a second slot; and the other of the first and second members comprises a second projection being received in the second slot and being spaced from the first projection.

5 . The frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first frame member connection portion is welded to the second frame member connection portion.

6 . The frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the second frame member connection portion is an end surface of the second frame member; and the projection extends from the end surface in a direction parallel to the second frame member axis.

7 . The frame assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second frame member connection portion circumscribes the slot of the first frame member.

8 . The frame assembly of claim 7 , wherein:
the first frame member defines an opening extending therethrough, the second frame member connection portion circumscribing the opening; the slot is a first slot; the projection is a first projection; the first frame member comprises a second slot; the second frame member comprises a second projection being received in the second slot and disposed spaced from the first projection; and the second frame member connection portion circumscribes the opening, the first slot and the second slot.

9 . The frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the second frame member is tubular; the second frame member defines a first opening extending therethrough and a second opening extending therethrough, the first and second openings being disposed on opposite sides with respect to the second frame member axis; the projection of the second frame member extends into the first opening; the slot of the first frame member extends from an end of the first frame member; the first frame member extends through the first second openings such that the projection is received in the slot; and a rim of each of the first and second openings is connected to the first frame member by welding.

10 . A method of assembling a frame assembly comprising a first frame member having a first frame member axis and a second frame member having a second frame member axis, the method comprising:
inserting a projection of the second frame member into a slot of the first frame member; contacting a first frame member connection portion of the first frame member with a second frame member connection portion of the second frame member to form a connection region, the first and second frame members being thereby positioned for connection with the second frame member axis disposed at a non-zero angle with respect to the first frame member axis in the connection region; and after positioning the first and second frame members for connection, connecting the first frame member connection portion to the second frame member connection portion.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:
when the first frame member connection portion is connected to the second frame member connection portion, the second frame member connection portion circumscribes the slot.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
when the first frame member connection portion is connected to the second frame member connection portion, the second frame member connection portion circumscribes an opening defined through the first frame member.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the opening is formed continuously with the slot; and inserting the projection into the slot comprises:
placing the projection in the opening; and
moving the projection from the opening into the slot.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein connecting comprises welding.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein inserting the projection into the slot comprises engaging the first frame member with the second frame member.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
after inserting the projection into the slot and before connecting the first frame member connection portion with the second frame member connection portion,
moving the projection along the slot.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the projection is moved along the slot until the projection is disposed at an end of the slot.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the slot is a first slot; the projection is a first projection; one of the first and second frame members comprises a second slot; and an other of the first and second frame members comprises a second projection, the method further comprising:
after moving the first projection along the first slot and before connecting the first frame member connection portion with the second frame member connection portion,
inserting the second projection into the second slot.

19 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the slot is a first slot; the projection is a first projection; one of the first and second frame members comprises a second slot; and an other of the first and second frame members comprises a second projection, the method further comprising: after inserting the first projection into the first slot and before connecting the first frame member connection portion with the second frame member connection portion,
moving the second frame member with respect to the first frame member to align the second projection with the second slot; and
after aligning the second projection with the second slot, inserting the second projection through the second slot.

20 . The method of claim 10 , wherein inserting the projection of the second frame member into the slot of the first frame member comprises:
moving the second frame member with respect to the first frame member, in an insertion direction parallel to one of: the first frame member axis; and the second frame member axis.

Assignees

• Bombardier Recreational Products Inc

Inventors

• Larocque Bruno
• FILLION Simon
• Jacques Pascal
• Guillemette Jean
• Brouillette David
• Rousseau David

Classifications

• B62D65/02

  Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components · CPC title

• B23P15/00

  Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass · CPC title

• B62D27/023 Primary

  Assembly of structural joints · CPC title

• B23P2700/50

  Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines · CPC title

• B62D21/02 Primary

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title