Patent ID: 9393972
Filing Date: 2016-07-19
CPC Classification: B61D,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A support frame for supporting mechanical equipment to a railway vehicle body, comprising: a plurality of tubular frame members; and a plurality of connecting brackets connecting the tubular frame members to form a three-dimensional structure, the connecting brackets comprising flange elements to accept respective ends of the tubular frame members to form the three-dimensional structure; wherein each tubular frame member comprises at least one swaged abutment flange and at least one swaged end flange; wherein each abutment flange comprises a hollow portion; and wherein each end flange is tapered; wherein the flange elements are disposed between at least one abutment flange and at least one end flange, such that the ends of the tubular frame members are swaged to the flange elements of the connecting brackets such that no mechanical fastener or welding is used; wherein the flange elements define receiving openings for the tubular frame members and the ends of the tubular frame members are swaged in place in the openings to form the end flanges; and wherein the connecting brackets comprise corner brackets, the corner brackets comprising at least three individual and generally orthogonal flange elements formed such that an upstanding flange element in each corner bracket is connected to two other flange elements and the two other flange elements are connected to only one other flange element.