Body mount assembly and a method for mounting a radiator assembly on a vehicle frame before attaching a body structure to the frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9902254-B1
Application number	US-201615218588-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 25, 2016
Priority date	Jul 25, 2016
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A method according to the principles of the present disclosure includes fastening a body mount assembly to a frame of a vehicle, where the body mount assembly includes a radiator support bracket. The method further includes mounting a radiator assembly onto the radiator support bracket after fastening the body mount assembly to the frame, and fastening a body structure to the body mount assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
fastening a body mount assembly to a frame of a vehicle, the body mount assembly including a radiator support bracket;
mounting a radiator assembly onto the radiator support bracket after fastening the body mount assembly to the frame; and
fastening a body structure to the body mount assembly.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, before fastening the body structure to the body mount assembly, making at least one connection between a first component attached to the frame and a second component attached to the radiator assembly.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one connection includes a plumbing connection.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one connection includes an electrical connection.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one connection includes multiple electrical connections and multiple plumbing connections.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising fastening the body mount assembly to the frame by inserting a pair of fasteners through ears on a frame mounting bracket of the body mount assembly and through the frame.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising mounting the radiator assembly to the radiator support bracket by inserting a radiator mount of the radiator assembly into a radiator mount hole in the radiator support bracket.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising fastening the body structure to the body mount assembly by inserting a fastener through the body mount assembly and into the body structure.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
fastening an engine to the frame before mounting the radiator assembly onto the radiator support bracket; and
making a plumbing connection between the engine and a radiator of the radiator assembly before fastening the body structure to the body mount assembly.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
fastening a transmission to the frame before mounting the radiator assembly onto the radiator support bracket; and
making a plumbing connection between the transmission and a transmission oil cooler of the radiator assembly before fastening the body structure to the body mount assembly.

11. A body mount assembly comprising:
a frame mounting bracket defining at least one hole configured to receive a first fastener for fastening the body mount assembly to a frame of a vehicle;
a first isolator disposed on a first side of the frame mounting bracket and configured inhibit transmission of vibration from the frame to a body structure;
a radiator support bracket disposed on an opposite side of the first isolator relative to the frame mounting bracket and configured to support a radiator assembly; and
a second fastener configured to extend through the frame mounting bracket, through the first isolator, through the radiator support bracket, and into the body structure to fasten the body structure to the frame.

12. The body mount assembly of claim 11 wherein the radiator support bracket defines a hole configured to receive the second fastener.

13. The body mount assembly of claim 11 wherein, when the body mount assembly is fastening the body structure to the frame, the radiator support bracket is not joined to the body structure other than by the second fastener.

14. The body mount assembly of claim 11 wherein the radiator support bracket includes a body mount portion configured to support the body structure and a radiator mount portion configured to support the radiator assembly.

15. The body mount assembly of claim 14 wherein, when the body mount assembly is fastening the body structure to the frame, at least part of the body mount portion is disposed above a portion of the frame, and at least part of the radiator mount portion is not disposed above that portion of the frame.

16. The body mount assembly of claim 14 wherein the body mount portion includes a planar body configured to be disposed between the first isolator and the body structure, and a perimeter wall extending from the planar body toward the frame mounting bracket.

17. The body mount assembly of claim 14 wherein the body mount portion has a first surface configured to engage the body structure and the radiator mount portion has a second surface configured to engage the radiator assembly, wherein the first and second surfaces are in different planes.

18. The body mount assembly of claim 14 wherein the radiator mount portion of the radiator support bracket defines a hole configured to receive a radiator mount of the radiator assembly.

19. The body mount assembly of claim 11 further comprising the first fastener, wherein the frame mounting bracket includes a disk-shaped body and a pair of ears extending radially outward from the disk-shaped body, each of the ears defining a hole configured to receive the first fastener.

20. The body mount assembly of claim 11 further comprising:
a second isolator disposed on a second side of the frame mounting bracket opposite of the first side and configured inhibit the transmission of vibration from the frame to the body structure; and
a washer disposed on an opposite side of the second isolator relative to the frame mounting bracket, wherein the second fastener is configured to extend through the washer, the second isolator, through the frame mounting bracket, through the first isolator, through the radiator support bracket, and into the body structure to fasten the body structure to the frame.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Long Michael G
• Dhuga Kulbir S
• Willis Joseph S

Classifications

• B60K11/04 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds · CPC title

• 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

• B62D25/084 Primary

  Radiator supports · CPC title