Mid-engine chassis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8944207-B2
Application number	US-201313786150-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2013
Priority date	Mar 5, 2013
Publication date	Feb 3, 2015
Grant date	Feb 3, 2015

Abstract

A chassis for a vehicle is suitable for mounting the engine of the vehicle between the forward and rear axle assemblies of the vehicle. A first forward rail is positioned opposite a second forward rail, and an engine cradle is positioned between the forward and rear axle assemblies. The engine cradle has first and second upper rails. A forward portion of the first upper rail is angled toward the second upper rail, and a rear portion of the first upper rail is angled toward the second upper rail. A middle portion of the first upper rail is parallel to a middle portion of the second upper rail. The engine cradle further includes first and second lower rails disposed below the first and second upper rails. A plurality of support members coupled the lower first and second lower rails to the first and second upper rails, respectively.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A chassis for a vehicle having an engine disposed between forward and rear axle assemblies, the chassis comprising:
(a) a first forward rail positioned opposite a second forward rail;
(b) an engine cradle positioned between the forward and rear axle assemblies, the engine cradle comprising:
(i) a first upper rail positioned opposite a second upper rail; a forward portion of the first upper rail being angled toward the second upper rail and extending forward of a rear end of the first forward rail, a rear portion of the first upper rail being angled toward the second upper rail, a middle portion of the first upper rail being parallel to a middle portion of the second upper rail;
(ii) first and second lower rails disposed below the first and second upper rails; and
(iii) a plurality of support members, each support member being coupled at a first end to one of the first and second lower rails; wherein (1) a rear end of the first forward rail is coupled to a first of the plurality of support members and is laterally offset from the middle portion of the first upper rail, and (2) a rear end of the second forward rail is coupled to a second of the plurality of support members and is laterally offset from the middle portion of the second upper rail, and

(c) a first rear rail positioned opposite a second rear rail, the first rear rail being aligned with the first forward rail and extending forward of a rear end of the first upper rail, the second rear rail extending forward of a rear end of the second upper rail, wherein (1) a forward end of the first rear rail is coupled to a third of the plurality of support members and is laterally offset from the middle portion of the first upper rail, and (2) a forward end of the second rear rail is coupled to a fourth of the plurality of support members and is laterally offset from the middle portion of the second upper rail.

2. The chassis of claim 1 , further comprising a first standoff extending laterally between the first upper rail and the first support member, the first standoff being coupled to the first upper rail and the first support member.

3. The chassis of claim 2 , further comprising a second standoff extending laterally between the second upper rail and the second support member, the second standoff being coupled to the second upper rail and the first support member.

4. The chassis of claim 1 , further comprising:
(a) a first forward strut coupled at a first end to a forward end of the first lower rail, the first forward strut being coupled at a second end to the first forward rail; and
(b) a second forward strut coupled at a first end to a forward end of the second lower rail, the second forward strut being coupled at a second end to the second forward rail.

5. The chassis of claim 4 , further comprising a cross member coupled at a first end to the second end of the first forward strut, a second end of the cross member being coupled to the second end of the second forward strut.

6. The chassis of claim 5 , further comprising a second cross member coupled at a first end to the forward end of the first lower rail, a second end of the cross member being coupled to the forward end of the second lower rail.

7. The chassis of claim 1 , further comprising a cross member coupled at a first end to the middle portion of the first upper rail, a second end of the cross member being coupled at a second end to the middle portion of the second upper rail.

8. The chassis of claim 1 , wherein the second rear rail is aligned with the second forward rail.

9. The chassis of claim 8 , further comprising a first standoff disposed between the first upper rail and the first support member, the first standoff being coupled to the first upper rail and the first support member.

10. The chassis of claim 8 , further comprising:
(a) a first rear strut coupled at a first end to a rear end of the first lower rail, the first rear strut being coupled at a second end to the first rear rail; and
(b) a second rear strut coupled at a first end to a rear end of the second lower rail, the second rear strut being coupled at a second end to second rear rail.

11. The chassis of claim 8 , further comprising a cross member coupled at a first end to the second end of the first rear strut, a second end of the cross member being coupled to the second end of the second rear strut.

12. The chassis of claim 11 , further comprising a second cross member coupled at a first end to the first end of the first rear strut, a second end of the cross member being coupled to the first end of the second rear strut.

13. The chassis of claim 1 , further comprising a radiator mount coupled at a first end to a forward portion of first forward rail, the radiator mount being coupled at a second end to a forward portion of the second forward rail, the radiator mount being positioned forward of the front axle assembly.

14. A chassis for a vehicle having an engine disposed between forward and rear axle assemblies, the chassis comprising:
(a) a left forward rail positioned opposite a right forward rail, the left and right forward rails extending forward of the forward axle assembly;
(b) a left rear rail positioned opposite a right rear rail, the left rear rail being aligned with the left forward rail, the right rear rail being aligned with the right forward rail, the left and right rear rails extending rearward of the rear axle assembly; and
(c) an engine cradle positioned between the forward and rear axle assemblies, the engine cradle comprising:
(i) a left upper rail positioned opposite a right upper rail, the left and right upper rails being sized and configured allow the engine to be disposed therebetween, the left upper rail extending forward of a rear end of the left forward rail and rearward of a forward end of the left rear rail, the right upper rail extending forward of a rear end of the right forward rail and rearward of a forward end of the right rear rail;
(ii) left and right lower rails disposed below the left and right upper rails;
(iii) a first support member, a first end of the first support member being coupled to a forward end of the left lower rail, a second end of the first support member being laterally offset from the left upper rail;
(iv) a second support member, a first end of the second support member being coupled to a forward end of the right lower rail, a second end of the second support member being laterally offset from the right upper rail;
(v) a third support member, a first end of the third support member being coupled to a rear end of the left lower rail, a second end of the third support member being laterally offset from the left upper rail; and
(vi) a fourth support member, a first end of the fourth support member being coupled to a rear end of the right lower rail, a second end of the fourth support member being laterally offset from the right upper rail.

15. The chassis of claim 14 , further comprising:
(a) a first standoff disposed between the left upper rail and the first support member, the first standoff being coupled to the left upper rail and the first support member;
(b) a second standoff disposed between the right upper rail and the second support member, the second standoff being coupled to the right upper rail and the second support member;
(c) a third standoff disposed between the left upper rail and the third support member, the third standoff being coupled to the left upper rail and the third support member; and
(d) a fourth standoff disposed between the right upper rail and the fourth support member, the fourth standoff being coupled to th

Assignees

• Gulan Larry F
• Angelo Gerald J
• Paccar Inc

Inventors

• Gulan Larry F
• Angelo Gerald J

Classifications

• B60K5/12 Primary

  Arrangement of engine supports · CPC title

• B60K2005/003

  the internal combustion or jet propulsion unit is arranged between the front and the rear axle · CPC title

• B62D21/07

  wide-hipped frame type, i.e. a wide box-shaped mid portion with narrower sections extending from said mid portion in both fore and aft directions · CPC title

• B60Y2200/145

  Haulage vehicles, trailing trucks · CPC title