The Budd Company

Other

Bruce D Kocer

Walter A Snyder

James P O'Connor

Gerald Robert Binder

Scott Spicuzza

Hans Otto Bihrer

Richard Marlin

A frame assembly is provided for a vehicle. The frame assembly includes a pair of frame rails and a subframe disposed between the frame rails. The subframe includes a unitary, generally U-shaped cradle including a front cross member and a pair of side members extending from the front cross member. A pair of front attachment members extend from a front portion of the cradle and attach to the frame rails. A pair of rear attachment members extend from a rear portion of the cradle and attach to the frame rails.

Front cradle for a vehicle

A computer storing desk for housing and supporting computer hardware includes a C-shaped top with a concave side and an opposite convex side. The concave side defines a work area and the convex side is greater in length than the concave side and defines a front edge of the desk. The top also has two ends which extend between the concave and convex sides. A pedestal supports the top and is positioned under one end of the top. Inside of the pedestal is a storage space and one face of the pedestal has an access opening which communicates with the interior storage space. The pedestal has another face which is a solid face with no openings. The pedestal is positioned such that the solid face is aligned with the concave side of the top and the face with the access opening is aligned with one end of the top.

Computer desk

A vehicle frame is provided including a pair of frame rails. A rear suspension support assembly extends between the pair of frame rails. The rear suspension support assembly includes a rear suspension crossmember having first and second ends each attached to one of the frame rails. A pair of spring brackets are attached to the rear suspension crossmember and to the frame rails. The rear suspension support assembly has a generally X-shaped configuration which improves the frame stiffness.

Rear suspension support assembly

A hydroformed control arm for a vehicle and a method of making the same is provided. The control arm includes a generally U-shaped member being hydroformed from a continuous, unitary tube. The generally U-shaped member includes varying cross-sectional areas along its length for improved structural integrity. The generally U-shaped member further includes a pair of pivot bores for enabling the control arm to pivot about a pivot axis. The U-shaped member still further including a ball joint cavity disposed near its apex for receiving a ball joint. The hydroformed control arm thereby eliminates the need for a ball joint bushing.

Hydroformed control arm

A process for forming angled trim lines on vehicle frame cross members to mate and secure the ends of the cross members with frame side rail members with a high degree of accuracy and in a cost efficient manner. The process includes the steps of removing portions of the end of a rectangular tube to form angled trim lines and connecting the angled trim lines with the frame side rail member. A cam trimming die is used to form the angled trim lines. The die includes substantially symmetrical drivers, slide cams, and filler cams. The drivers move the slide cams and filler cams in opposing directions. The slide cams carry cutting steels that form the angled trim lines as the slide cam moves. The filler cams support the rectangular tube and produce a sheering effect with the cutting steels as they move past one another. The present invention simplifies and expedites the formation of trim lines on the ends of the rectangular cross members as well as obviates the need for expensive laser trimming and plasma arcing tools to form the trim lines on the cross member ends.

Rectangular tube trimming process and apparatus

A body bracket is provided for attachment to a vehicle frame. The body bracket includes a top wall having an attachment hole therein. A pair of sidewalls extend from the top wall. The sidewalls include an upper end and a lower end. The sidewalls are flared such that a distance between the lower ends of the pair of sidewalls is larger than a distance between the upper ends thereof. The sidewalls have an end portion for attachment to the vehicle frame. The end portions are provided with an outward taper.

Body bracket and welding technique

A vehicle frame having a side/cross member joint, including a pair of side members each having at least one opening therethrough, the openings having a plurality of generally straight edge portions. A cross member is connected to the side members, wherein the one cross member is disposed in the openings in the side members. The cross member is deformed radially outwardly such that an outer surface of the cross member is formed with a pair of grooves having radially extending walls on opposite sides of each of the openings in the side member. A plurality of flat and semi-circular portions are formed in the cross member corresponding with the straight edge portions and the semi-circular edge portions of the openings.

Growing community of inventors

Oxford, MI, United States of America

Bruce D Kocer