Patent ID: 8979103
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: B60B,B60Y,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A tubular structure, comprising: a portion of a vehicle axle including at least one longitudinal tubular member, at least one transverse tubular member and a connector interconnecting the longitudinal and transverse tubular members by welding, each of said tubular members comprising opposed ends and a side surface; said longitudinal and transverse tubular members being connected such that an end of one of the tubular members faces and is spaced, at least in part, from the side surface of the other tubular member; the connector comprising a first shell and a second shell; said first and second shells being fixed to opposite sides of said transverse and longitudinal tubular members to connect said tubular members; each of said shells comprising a first portion which is welded to the transverse tubular member by at least one first weld bead and a second portion welded to the longitudinal tubular member by at least one second weld bead; said first portions of said first and second shells each having side edges which extend generally parallel to an axis of said transverse tubular member; said first and second shells being sized such that each of said side edges of the first portion of said first shell is spaced apart from each of said side edges of the first portion of said second shell; said at least one first weld bead extending along at least one of said side edges of said first portions of said shells; each connector shell further comprising an indexing hole for positioning the connector shells in relation to a point of reference during assembly by welding the connector shells to the longitudinal tubular member.