VEHICLE FRAME AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING IT

Abstract: A vehicle frame (1) is composed of two longitudinal side members (2, 3) and a number of cross-members (4, 5, 6) which run through apertures in the side members. Similar side members are used for all frame lengths. After completion of assembly, any unnecessary length beyond a cross-member (4) is cut off.

Description: Vehicle frame and method of assembling it Area of technology The present invention relates partly to a vehicle frame, in accordance with the preamble to patent claim 1 , and partly to a method of assembling it, in accordance with the preamble to patent claim 4. State of the art A common practice in large vehicle frames, particularly for buses, is to use special side members for each vehicle length. This complicates manufacture and stockholding but facilitates assembly. Object of the invention The object of the invention is to create a vehicle frame which is rational to manufacture and allows great flexibility with regard to design. Brief description of the invention This object is achieved by the features which are set out in the characterising parts of patent claims l and 4. Using side members which after assembly can be cut to a desired length results in substantial simplification of their manufacture and stockholding. Further features and advantages of the invention are indicated in the description below. List of drawings Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle frame according to the invention and Fig. 2 shows a vehicle frame after cutting of the side members. Description of preferred embodiments As may be seen in Fig. 1, a vehicle frame 1 according to the invention is composed of two elongated side members 2 and 3 and three shorter cross-members 4, 5 and 6. The side members 2 and 3 are at certain mutual spacing and run in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The cross-members are arranged at right angles to the side members, through which they run and to which they are joined so that a rigid vehicle frame 1 is formed. To this end the side member 2 is provided with apertures 2a, 2b and 2c and the side member 3 is correspondingly provided with apertures 3a, 3b and 3c. These apertures are large enough for it to be possible to run the cross-members through them with clearance. On each of the cross-members there are fastening devices 7, here in the form of flanges, for joining side members and cross-members together by means of fastening elements in the form of bolts and nuts. The cross-members to be used in the vehicle frame are provided beforehand with fastening devices 7 , advantageously by welding, which fastening devices are with advantage arranged in pairs and situated along the cross-members in such a way as to achieve the intended spacing between the side members at the time of assembly. The side members to be used in the vehicle frame 1 are provided beforehand with the requisite number of apertures for cross-members and with the requisite number of holes for fastening elements. In this respect it is desirable from the outset to design the side members so that the same side member design can be used for different frame variants. This means that, for example, there may be alternative apertures for cross-members and hence also alternative holes for the fastening elements 8 depending on what is necessary or desired. The procedure of assembling the vehicle frame 1 according to the invention starts with fixing the requisite number of cross-members (provided with necessary fastening devices 7) at the intended mutual spacings d, e and in the intended positions relative to one another. This is followed by placing the side members 2 and 3 in position by moving them in the transverse directions marked by the arrows 9 and 10 so that they abut against the fastening devices 7 and reach their intended positions on the cross-members. The next stage is to secure the fastening devices 7 and hence the cross-members to the side members by inserting bolts through the holes provided for the purpose. During this assembly operation it is important that the cross-members are inserted through the apertures intended for them in the side members with clearance in order to avoid damage to the surface treatment, which is with advantage applied to the relevant parts before the assembly operation. This makes it possible, for example, for these parts to be spray-painted and keep their paintwork intact during the assembly operation, not least because welding to the side members is obviated. The vehicle frame 1 here depicted is intended, together with its long cross-members, to form part of a bus. Depending on the length of the bus, it may be desirable to connect two vehicle frames 1 of the type depicted by joining the side members together at suitable points in the vehicle. It is also possible to use two separate vehicle frames with a self- supporting vehicle body portion between them. The shape of the side members may of course be different from that here depicted. Depending on the design of the vehicle, they may for example be bent in various ways. Other types of sections may be used instead of channel sections. The cross-members 4 , 5 and 6 are depicted here with closed cross-sections, resulting in good rigidity, but other versions may also be desired. Assembling the vehicle frame is facilitated if the portions of the cross-members 4 , 5 and 6 which protrude beyond the side members 2, 3 are straight. The type of fastening devices 7 and fastening elements may also be varied as necessary or desired. Where applicable, certain cross-members may be provided with a larger or smaller number of fastening devices than other cross-members, depending on their location in the vehicle. Further parts not here depicted are subsequently fitted in a conventional manner to the vehicle frame here depicted. It is rational from the manufacturing point of view to be able to use similar side members for different frame lengths, thereby obviating production adjustments and simplifying stockholding. According to the invention it is proposed, as indicated in Fig. 1, that the vehicle frame 1 is assembled with side members 2 and 3 of a standard type and with cross-members 4, 5 and 6 in their intended positions. In cases where the completed frame is to have shorter than standard side members, cutting is carried out according to Fig. 2 of the overhang forward of the front cross-member 4 to the desired extent after assembly. The cutting may, for example, be made more extensive if the cross-member 4 is positioned still further rearwards, e.g. in the apertures 2d and 3d depicted in Fig. 2. Alternative positionings of the front cross-member 4 are facilitated by the forward aperture 3a in the side member 3 being elongated in the latter' s longitudinal direction and by there being at the same time a sufficient number of ready- made apertures for threaded connections. The aperture 3a may, as here, take the form of a slot which runs from a side member end and is itself open at one end.

Claims: Claims 1. Vehicle frame, particularly a bus frame, provided with two side members (2,3) which run in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, are arranged at a certain mutual spacing and have running through them cross- members (4,5,6) which are arranged at intended mutual spacings in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and are each fastened to both of the side members, characterised in that the side members (2,3) each have one end designed for alternative positionings of a cross-member (4) situated there and incorporate at least a first cross-member aperture (2a, 3a) which is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the side member, adjacent to which cross-member apertures there are apertures whereby threaded connections for joining side members to fastening devices (7) on the cross-member can be placed in alternative positions, and that each side member is intended to be cut as necessary outside said cross-member (4) in order to give the frame its intended length after assembly. 2. Vehicle frame according to claim 1, characterised in that the first cross-member aperture (2a, 3a) extends in the side member (2,3) in the form of a slot which runs from one end of the side member and which is itself open at one end. 3. Vehicle frame according to claim 2 , characterised in that a second cross-member aperture (2d, 3d) is also elongated in the longitudinal direction of the side member and is situated slightly inward from the first cross-member aperture (2a, 3a) but before the aperture (2b, 3b) for the next cross-member (5). 4. Method of assembling a vehicle frame, particularly a bus frame, whereby the vehicle frame incorporates not only two side members (2,3) which run in the longitudinal direction of the beam and are intended to be at a certain mutual spacing, but also cross-members (4,5,6) which are situated at mutual spacings in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, are introduced into apertures (2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c) in the side members and are thereafter fastened to the latter, characterised in that a single side-member length is used for different frame lengths, the cross-member (4) situated closest to one end (the forward end) of the frame (1) is fitted in prepared apertures in the side members in a special position relative to the side members which corresponds to the intended frame length, and said cross-member (4) is fastened to the side members (2,3), after which the latter are cut as necessary outside said cross-members (4) in order to give the frame (1) the intended length. 5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that the cross-members (4,5,6) are fastened to the side members (2,3) by threaded connections.

Inventors: BOREHALL HANS, EKLUND HANS, JUNG LARS, BOREHALL, HANS, EKLUND, HANS, JUNG, LARS
Applicants: SCANIA CV ABP, SCANIA CV AKTIEBOLAG (PUBL)
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B62D21
IPC codes: B62D21, B62D65