Structural support for a bolt collar

A structural support for a bolt collar in an automotive vehicle main structural support is provided and includes a rear wall having a rounded portion, a pair of side walls extending substantially perpendicular from the rear wall and a base extending from a lower portion of the rear wall and from a lower portion of the rounded portion in a direction opposite to that of the pair of side walls. The rounded portion extends outwardly from the rear wall in the same direction as the base in an arc-like fashion and forms a recess on an inside surface of the rear wall. Further, the rounded portion extends approximately halfway up the rear wall from the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to connection points between a main structural component, such as a main frame, in an automotive vehicle and a sub-assembly, such as a sub-frame, bumper beam, steering hanger beam, etc. More specifically, the invention relates to a bolt collar and a structural support arrangement on the main structural component.

2. Description of Related Art

Referring toFIG. 7, load transfers between a main structural component100, such as a main vehicle frame, and a sub-assembly (not shown), such as a sub-frame, bumper beam, etc., in an automotive vehicle occur at connection points through the bolts connecting the sub-assembly to the main structural component100. To strengthen the connection points a structural support or stiffener104can be added to the main structural component100to strengthen a bolt collar106. The stiffener104is welded (designated by an “x”) to the main structural component100and then the bolt collar106is welded to both the stiffener104and to the main structural component100such that a longitudinal axis108of the stiffener104is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis110of the bolt collar106. This conventional method, however, tends to result in high bending stress around a weld interface112between the bolt collar106, main structural component100and stiffener104, which in turn leads to stress cracks.

Thus, what is required is an improved stiffener that overcomes the above disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect, the present invention overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages by providing an automotive vehicle main structural component comprising a frame having a bottom wall, two side walls and an opening defined in the bottom wall, a bolt collar adapted to receive a fastening device operatively connected to an upper surface of the bottom wall such that an opening defined in the bolt collar is aligned with the opening defined in the bottom wall of the frame and a structural support operatively connected to the frame and to the bolt collar, where a longitudinal axis of the structural support is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bolt collar and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the frame.

In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides where the structural support includes a rear wall having a rounded portion, a pair of side walls extending substantially perpendicular from the rear wall and a base extending from a lower portion of the rear wall and from a lower portion of the rounded portion in a direction opposite to that of the pair of side walls where the rounded portion extends outwardly from the rear wall in the same direction as the base in an arc-like fashion thereby forming a recess on an inside surface of the rear wall and where the rounded portion extends approximately halfway up the rear wall from the base.

Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings,FIGS. 1 and 2show perspective front and rear views respectively of a structural support or stiffener10for a bolt collar in accordance with the present invention. The stiffener10is an integrated part that includes a rear wall12, two side walls14and a base16. A front portion18of the stiffener10is open, thus, integration of the rear wall12and the two side walls14form a U-shaped cross-section (seeFIG. 3) as viewed from line3-3inFIG. 2.

The rear wall12includes a rounded portion20that projects outwardly in an arc-like fashion in a direction away from the front portion18of the stiffener10. Thus, the rounded portion20forms a recess22on an inside surface24of the rear wall12. The rounded portion20extends upwardly from the base16to approximately halfway up the rear wall12and is adapted to receive the bolt collar, as will be explained below. A width of the rear wall12increases as the rear wall12extends further upward away from the base16. In other words, a width of a top portion26of the rear wall12is greater than a width of a lower portion28.

Still referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the two side walls14extend outward from the rear wall12and are substantially perpendicular to the rear wall12. An outside surface30of each side wall14is welded to a main structural component to secure the stiffener10in place, as will be explained further below.

The base16extends outwardly from the lower portion28of the rear wall12and from a lower portion32of the rounded portion20such that an upper surface34of the base16is substantially perpendicular to an outside surface36of the rear wall14. The base16extends from the rear wall12in a direction opposite to that of the two side walls14and engages the main structural component to secure the stiffener in place.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5,FIGS. 4 and 5show a top view and a perspective cutaway view respectively of a main structural component40, such as a main vehicle frame. The main structural component40includes a bottom wall42, two side walls44, an opening46defined in the bottom wall42and a bolt collar48. The side walls44extend upwardly from an upper surface47of the bottom wall42such that the side walls44are substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall42. The bolt collar48is cylindrical in shape and defines an opening49that extends the entire length of the bolt collar48. The bolt collar48is connected to the upper surface47of the bottom wall42such that the opening49of the bolt collar48is aligned with the opening46defined in the bottom wall42of the main structural component40. The bolt collar48can be connected to the upper surface47of the bottom wall42by any means known in the art such as, but not limited to welding. Thus, a connection interface50such as a weld interface is formed between the bolt collar48and the bottom wall42of the main structural component40. The bolt collar48is adapted to receive a fastening device, such as a bolt, to secure the sub assembly to the main structural component40.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the outside surface30of each side wall14of the stiffener10is connected to an inside surface52of each side wall44of the main structural component40. Further, referring toFIG. 6, the inside surface24of the rear wall12in the recess22is connected to an outside surface56of the bolt collar48at a connection interface57. Thus, the stiffener10is connected to both the main structural component40and to the bolt collar48. The stiffener10can be connected to the main structural component40and to the bolt collar48by any means known in the art such as, but no limited to welding.

The stiffener10is attached to the main structural component40such that a longitudinal axis58of the stiffener10is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis60of the bolt collar48and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis62of the main structural component40. When the stiffener10is attached to the main structural component40as described above, the stiffener10becomes a stiff tension/compression member that distributes the load in an efficient manner to previously unloaded portions of the main structural component40. This in turn reduces the deflection of the bolt collar48thereby reducing the stress at the connection interface50between the bolt collar48and the main structural component40. Thus, the stiffener10adds strength and minimizes the deflection to the bolt collar48.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that these embodiments are provided by way of example only and that the invention is not to be construed as being limited but only by proper scope of the following claims.