Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Matt Edward Maser

Jamil M Alwan

Paul Elia

John T Reed

Peter Ellis Hackett

Geoff John Cooper

Rob Yustick

A vehicle structural frame member incorporates an internal lightweight brace member spanning between the opposing flanges of the co-joined hat-shaped members forming the structural frame member. The internal brace is formed of thin material, such as steel, to help the frame member retain its geometric shape when placed under a load. The internal brace can be formed into a ladder-like configuration with longitudinally spaced members that span between the opposing flanges to keep the geometric shape from collapsing. A substantial improvement in load carrying capability before collapse is obtained with a small increment in additional weight in the structural frame member.

Structural stability device for automotive frame members

A vehicle roof structure including a front header, a pillar support member, a side roof rail, and a roof rail outer front member. The front header has a substantially box-shaped cross-section. The pillar support member has an elongated member extending between a windshield opening and a door opening, a short first member at one end of the elongated member extending along the windshield opening, and a short second member at the end extending along the door opening. The first member includes a first edge adjoining an end of the front header. The side roof rail has a substantially box-shaped cross-section and adjoins a second edge of the pillar support second member. The roof rail outer front member is affixed to the pillar support member. The roof rail outer front member adjoins the end of the front header in a region of the first edge, adjoins the side roof rail in a region of the second edge, and extends along at least a portion of the elongated member of the pillar support member. The roof rail outer front member and the pillar support member form a substantially box-shaped cross-section extending between the first, second and elongated members such that a continuous substantially box-shaped cross-section exists throughout the joint defined by the vehicle roof structure.

Vehicle roof structure

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Frankfort, IL, United States of America

Matt Edward Maser