Patent ID: 6519855
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a vehicle frame assembly comprising the steps of:(a) forming a first vehicle frame component having a relatively large dimension central portion extending between a pair of relatively small dimension end portions by: (1) providing a first closed channel structural member; (2) hydroforming the first closed channel structural member to have first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion defines a first dimension that is larger than a second dimension defined by the second end portion; (3) providing a second closed channel structural member; (4) hydroforming the second closed channel structural member to have first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion defines a first dimension that is larger than a second dimension defined by the second end portion; and (5) securing the first end portion of the first closed channel structural member to the first end portion of the second closed channel structural member section to form the first vehicle frame component having a relatively large dimension central portion extending between a pair of relatively small dimension end portions; (b) providing a plurality of second vehicle frame components; and (c) securing the first vehicle frame component and the plurality of second vehicle frame components together to form the vehicle frame assembly.