Ford Motor Company Limited

Lawrence P Kazyak

Adam M Janotik

Derek F Gentle

Tahir M Mansour

Gordon G Strosberg

James R Dixon

Emmanuel P Papadakis

Charles J Haddad

William J Fobar

Joe Marasco

A split joint construction for a space frame on an automotive vehicle includes at least one rocker member extending longitudinally, at least one structural member having extensions extending longitudinally in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, each of the extensions having at least one channel to receive the rocker member, and a fastening mechanism for securing the structural member and rocker member together.

Split joint construction for a space frame

A space frame for an automotive vehicle includes at least one longitudinally extending structural member and at least one rocker including a structure forming channels on at least two sides, one of the channels receiving the structural member and an adhesive and/or sleeve for securing the structural member to the rocker.

Space frame construction

A rocker and various joint constructions are provided for a space frame on an automotive vehicle. Also, various methods are provided for constructing joints and joining subassemblies of a space frame together.

A torque box for a space frame on an automotive vehicle having at least a pair of spaced vertically extending structural members includes an inner panel, and an outer panel spaced from the inner panel and substantially parallel thereto. The torque box includes a plurality of interior panels extending between and interconnecting the inner and outer panels. The inner and outer panels and interior panels cooperate to form a spaced ends which are secured to the structural members.

Space frame torque box

A connector for a space frame on an automotive vehicle having a plurality of structural members in at least two dimensions includes an inner panel, and an outer panel spaced from the inner panel and substantially parallel thereto. The connector also includes a connector panel attached to the inner and outer panel to form a channel defining one dimension and adapted to receive one of the structural members. The connector further includes at least one extension member attached to either one of the connector panel and the inner panel and the outer panel and extending outwardly therefrom to define a second dimension relative to the first dimension and adapted to be disposed within another one of the structural members to form a joint therebetween.

Space frame connector

A space frame for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of hoop-shaped structural members and a structure disposed on adjacent portions of the structural members for allowing nesting engagement therebetween to form a substantially flush outer surface between the structural members. The structure includes at least one shoulder portion and at least one extension portion on one of the structural members.

A method and apparatus for the attachment of plastic outer body panels to automotive vehicle subframes including positioning a cup within apertures in the subframe, applying a thixotropic heat curable plastic/adhesive to the cup, heat curing the plastic/adhesive in situ while forming a blind aperture in the plastic/adhesive, and securing the body panel to the subframe through threaded insertion of a fastener into the blind aperture.

Apparatus for assembling body panels

Method for assembling body panels

A receptacle is provided for receiving a plastic/adhesive used for mounting plastic body panels to a metallic subframe of an automobile in which the receptacle is formed through progressive die stamping from a cross formed blank. The receptacle is formed as truncated pyramidical shape and includes two sides with bent-over flanges for engaging the metallic subframe and two shorter sides which lock the receptacle to the subframe in snap-fit relationship after insertion into a square aperture.

Body panel mounting receptacles

A rotary magazine holds cutting tool inserts, each having multiple cutting edges. The magazine is rotated to a first station where the inserts are removed, transferred to a machine tool and returned after use. Each unused cutting edge of the inserts is successively advanced to a reference position on the magazine. A pneumatically operated device lifts the inserts from the magazine and rotates them into position for machining. A pneumatically operated gearwheel advances the position of the cutting edges with respect to the reference position.

Growing community of inventors

Novi, MI, United States of America

Lawrence P Kazyak