Drainable section stabilizer sleeve

A product comprising a drainable section stabilizer sleeve for a vehicle body structure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field to which the disclosure generally relates to includes vehicle body structures.

BACKGROUND

A vehicle body structure may include one or more reinforcements.

SUMMARY OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS

One variation may include a product comprising a drainable section stabilizer sleeve for a vehicle body structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS

One variation may include a product comprising a drainable stabilizer sleeve for a vehicle body structure.

Referring toFIG. 1, a vehicle may include a vehicle body structure50. Various areas or sections60,62,88of the body structure50may be exposed to various stresses which may cause weakening or deformation of the section60,62,88. For example, the sections60where the front rails52attach to a front cradle54, the sections62where the 6-bar56attaches to a rear cradle58, as well as the sections88where an underbody bracing attachment86may be attached to the rocker84may be exposed to stresses or loads which may increase the risk of weakening or deformation of the section60,62,88.

Referring toFIG. 2, a drainable section stabilizer sleeve64may be used to add additional local stiffness to a section60,62,88which may prevent or reduce deformation or weakening of a section60,62,88exposed to increased stress or loading. The drainable section stabilizer sleeve64may also add increased stability to the section60,62,88.

In one variation, a drainable section stabilizer sleeve64may include a body66which may be constructed and arranged to fit inside a section60,62,88of a vehicle body structure50. The body66may include an upper portion68and a lower portion70. The upper portion68of the body66may be hollow which may reduce the mass of the drainable section stabilizer sleeve64as well as the overall mass of the vehicle. The lower portion70of the body66may include a feature which may close out the section60,62, for example, a threaded bore74which may extend through the length of the lower portion70of the body66which may be constructed and arranged to mate with a mechanical fastener (not illustrated) such as a threaded bolt. The close out feature may be used to attach a section60,62,88of the vehicle structure to another vehicle component, for example, but not limited to, a front rail52, or 6-bar56to a front cradle54or a rear cradle58, as illustrated inFIG. 2, or a rocker84to an underbody bracing attachment86. One or more holes76may be located in the body66adjacent to the close out feature in the lower portion70of the body66of the drainable section stabilizer sleeve64, which may prevent water and/or other contaminants from collecting inside of the drainable section stabilizer sleeve64and may reduce corrosion of the drainable section stabilizer sleeve and/or the close out feature74. The lower portion70may also include a flange or lip72which may extend radially from the perimeter of the lower portion70of the body66.

The drainable section stabilizer sleeve64may be inserted into a cavity of the section60,62,88of a vehicle body structure50so that the flange or lip72of the body66of the drainable section stabilizer sleeve64is flush with the lower surface80of the vehicle body structure50. A portion of the drainable section stabilizer sleeve64may extend past the upper surface78of the vehicle body structure50.

The upper portion68of the drainable section stabilizer sleeve64may be welded82to the upper surface78of the vehicle body structure50, for example as illustrated inFIG. 2. The flange or lip72may also be welded82to the lower surface80of the vehicle body structure50. The welding82may additionally secure the drainable section stabilizer sleeve64into place.

The drainable section stabilizer sleeve64may be formed in any of a number of variations. In one variation, the body66may be an extruded structure wherein the upper portion68may have a bore65the diameter of which may be increased after the extrusion by drilling out material. The bore in the lower portion70may be threaded after the extrusion. The flange or lip72of the extruded body may be formed via “cold heading” wherein the material may be flattened to create the flange or lip72. The drainable section stabilizer sleeve64may be comprised of any of a number of materials including, but not limited to aluminum or aluminum alloy.

Variation 1 may include a product comprising: a stabilizer sleeve; wherein the stabilizer sleeve includes a body; wherein the body includes an upper portion and a lower portion; wherein the upper portion is hollow; wherein the lower portion includes a close out feature; and wherein the upper portion of the body includes at least one hole.

Variation 2 may include a product as set forth in claim1wherein the close out feature is a central thread which is constructed and arranged to mate with a mechanical fastener.

Variation 3 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-2 wherein the at least one hole is located adjacent the close out feature.

Variation 4 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-3 wherein the lower portion of the body includes a lip.

Variation 5 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-4 wherein the stabilizer sleeve is cylindrical.

Variation 6 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-5 wherein the stabilizer sleeve comprises aluminum.

Variation 7 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-6 wherein the stabilizer sleeve comprises aluminum alloy.

Variation 3 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-7 wherein the stabilizer sleeve is extruded.

Variation 9 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-8 wherein the stabilizer sleeve is constructed and arranged to be inserted into a cavity of a section of a vehicle body structure.

Variation 10 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-9 wherein the stabilizer sleeve is attached to the vehicle body structure.

Variation 11 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-10 wherein the vehicle body structure includes an upper surface and a lower surface; wherein the upper portion of the body of the stabilizer sleeve is welded to the upper surface of the vehicle body structure; and wherein the lower portion of the stabilizer sleeve is welded to the lower surface of the vehicle body structure.

Variation 12 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-11 wherein the section of the vehicle body structure is a front rail.

Variation 13 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-11 wherein the section of the vehicle body structure is a 6-bar.

Variation 14 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-11 wherein the section of the vehicle body structure is a rocker.

Variation 15 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-14 wherein the vehicle body structure and the stabilizer sleeve are attached to a vehicle component.

Variation 16 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-15 wherein the vehicle component is a cradle.

Variation 17 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-16 wherein the vehicle component is an underbody bracing attachment.

The above description of select examples of the invention is merely illustrative in nature and, thus, variations or variants thereof are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.