Patent ID: 6113180
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: B60G,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A closed loop type rear framing structure for a vehicle comprising: a pair of rear suspension strut towers being laterally spaced across the vehicle, each strut tower to house and support an associated rear wheel suspension strut member; panel means defining a vehicle floor; a pair of laterally spaced rear wheel-housing assemblies, each wheel-housing assembly associated with a respective one of said strut towers; a lower cross beam member extending laterally across the vehicle between said pair of strut towers and with opposite end portions thereof operatively and rigidly connected respectively with a lower portion of one of said strut towers; a one-piece upper cross beam extending laterally with respect to the vehicle between said pair of strut towers and with opposite end portions thereof attached to an upper portion of one of said strut towers thereby providing a continuous rear framing structure of the vehicle for supporting the suspension strut members; and wherein each strut tower defines a yoke configuration at it s upper end and with each of said yoke configurations sized to receive an end portion of said upper cross beam, each said end portion of said upper cross beam having spaced apart side walls, said yoke configurations being defined in part by opposed and spaced side walls of said strut towers adapted to overlie said spaced apart side walls of said upper cross beam wherein before final assembly said end portions of said cross beam are capable of lateral sliding adjustment in said yoke configurations for desirably aligning said strut towers and wherein said said yoke's side walls are attached to said strut tower's side walls for fixing the orientation of said upper cross beam and strut tower relative to one another.