Vehicle Center Frame Module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023144195-A1
Application number	US-202217748867-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 19, 2022
Priority date	Nov 9, 2021
Publication date	May 11, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle center frame module includes a pair of side sills, each side sill including a side sill inner having a closed cross section and a side sill outer having a closed cross section, wherein an inboard side surface of the side sill outer and an outboard side surface of the side sill inner are joined, and a plurality of crossmembers connecting the pair of side sills in a transverse direction of a vehicle, the crossmembers including a first crossmember and a second crossmember disposed behind the first crossmember in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle center frame module comprising:
a pair of side sills, each side sill comprising a side sill inner having a closed cross section and a side sill outer having a closed cross section, wherein an inboard side surface of the side sill outer and an outboard side surface of the side sill inner are joined; and a plurality of crossmembers connecting the pair of side sills in a transverse direction of a vehicle, the crossmembers comprising a first crossmember and a second crossmember disposed behind the first crossmember in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

2 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 1 , wherein the side sill inner comprises a material having higher strength and stiffness than a material of the side sill outer.

3 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 1 , wherein the side sill inner comprises a high-tensile strength steel plate.

4 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the side sill inner is greater than a cross-sectional area of the side sill outer.

5 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 1 , wherein the side sill inner and the side sill outer are joined to define a stepped structure.

6 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the side sill outer is disposed lower than a bottom surface of the side sill inner in a height direction of the vehicle.

7 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 1 , wherein the side sill further comprises a rivet nut extending through the side sill inner and configured to mount a battery assembly.

8 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 7 , wherein the rivet nut comprises:
a nut body extending through the side sill inner; a top head disposed on a top end of the nut body; and a bottom head disposed on a bottom end of the nut body.

9 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 8 , wherein:
the nut body comprises internal threads on an inner circumferential surface thereof; the top head is supported and joined to a top surface of the side sill inner; and the bottom head is supported and joined to a bottom surface of the side sill inner.

10 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 1 , further comprising support brackets, wherein each end portion of each crossmember is coupled to a respective one of the pair of side sills by a respective one of the support brackets.

11 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 10 , wherein each support bracket comprises a first surface fixed to the respective crossmember and a second surface fixed to the side sill inner, the first surface being perpendicular to the second surface.

12 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 11 , wherein each support bracket further comprises an inclined surface extending obliquely between the first surface and the second surface.

13 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 1 , wherein each crossmember comprises a high-tensile strength steel plate.

14 . A vehicle center frame module comprising:
a pair of side sills, each side sill comprising a side sill inner having a closed cross section and a side sill outer having a closed cross section, wherein an inboard side surface of the side sill outer and an outboard side surface of the side sill inner are joined; at least two crossmembers connecting the pair of side sills in a transverse direction of a vehicle, the crossmembers comprising a first crossmember and a second crossmember disposed behind the first crossmember in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and at least two side longitudinal members connected perpendicularly to the at least two crossmembers.

15 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 14 , wherein the side longitudinal members comprise:
a pair of first side longitudinal members extending from the first crossmember to the second crossmember; and a pair of second side longitudinal members extending from the second crossmember toward a rear of the vehicle.

16 . The vehicle center frame module according to claim 15 , wherein each second side longitudinal member is aligned with a corresponding first side longitudinal member in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

17 . A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle frame comprising an upper body; a pair of side sills, each side sill comprising a side sill inner having a closed cross section and a side sill outer having a closed cross section, wherein an inboard side surface of the side sill outer and an outboard side surface of the side sill inner are joined, and wherein a top surface of the side sill outer is disposed lower than a top surface of the side sill inner; at least two crossmembers connecting the pair of side sills in a transverse direction of a vehicle, the crossmembers comprising a first crossmember and a second crossmember disposed behind the first crossmember in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a battery assembly disposed under the vehicle frame.

18 . The vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein the side sill inner comprises a material having higher strength and stiffness than a material of the side sill outer.

19 . The vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the side sill inner is greater than a cross-sectional area of the side sill outer.

20 . The vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein the side sill further comprises a rivet nut to mount the battery assembly, the rivet nut comprising:
a nut body extending through the side sill inner and comprising internal threads on an inner circumferential surface thereof; a top head disposed on a top end of the nut body, wherein the top head is supported and joined to a top surface of the side sill inner; and a bottom head disposed on a bottom end of the nut body, wherein the bottom head is supported and joined to a bottom surface of the side sill inner.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Kang Jeon Woong
• Min Huen Sick

Classifications

• B62D23/005 Primary

  with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like (B62D33/044 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D25/2036 Primary

  the subunits being side panels, sills or pillars (B62D21/157 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D25/088

  Details of structures as upper supports for springs or dampers · CPC title

• B62D29/007

  predominantly of special steel or specially treated steel, e.g. stainless steel or locally surface hardened steel · CPC title

• B60Y2306/01

  Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection · CPC title