Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Patrick Marchena

John Joseph Uicker

Sanjay Mehta

Michael Musa Azzouz

David Anthony Wagner

Gerald J Heath

Xiaoming Chen

Sunil K Kasaragod

Allen Li

Mark Andrew Kessen

A sub-frame assembly supports a pair of wheels on a vehicle. The base may be an extrusion having a matrix of panels extending in a vertical direction. The sub-frame assembly has control arm brackets disposed on opposing ends of the base and attachment towers extending above the brackets providing attachment points to connect portions of an independent suspension to the vehicle and support a pair of wheels. The base, control brackets and attachment towers may be individual modular pieces. Left and right hand control brackets and attachment towers may be provided by respective unitary support pieces attached to opposing ends of the base. The unitary support pieces may be extrusions having panels extending in a transverse direction, nonaxial to the base. The base, control arm brackets and attachment towers, alternatively, may be provided by a single unitary extrusion having a matrix of panels extending in a transverse direction.

Extruded metal sub-frame for a vehicle

In one or more embodiments, a vehicle frame joint assembly includes a first frame portion including an adaptor, a second frame portion defining a cavity to receive at least a portion of the adaptor, and a first adhesive layer positioned between the adaptor and the cavity when the first frame portion is connected to the second frame portion.

Vehicle frame joint assembly and method of forming the same

A sub-frame assembly for supporting a pair of wheels on a vehicle. The base may be an extrusion having a matrix of panels extending in a vertical direction. The sub-frame assembly has control arm brackets disposed on opposing ends of the base and attachment towers extending above the brackets providing attachment points to connect portions of an independent suspension to the vehicle and support a pair of wheels. The base, control brackets and attachment towers may be individual modular pieces. Left and right hand control brackets and attachment towers may be provided by respective unitary support pieces attached to opposing ends of the base. The unitary support pieces may be extrusions having panels extending in a transverse direction, nonaxial to the base. The base, control arm brackets and attachment towers, alternatively, may be provided by a single unitary extrusion having a matrix of panels extending in a transverse direction.

A front sub-assembly for an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The front sub-assembly includes a pair of spaced apart, substantially hollow side assemblies. Each of the side assemblies includes an upper side member and a lower side member. The front ends of the side assemblies are joined together by a front cross member that includes a front cross member reinforcing bracket and an internal mass dampener. The rear ends of the side assemblies are joined by an upper cross member and a lower cross member. A plurality of brackets, including body mount brackets, a steering gear bracket, an exhaust mount bracket, and a roll restrictor bracket are also strategically provided. The brackets as well as other components are preferably formed from stamped steel.

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Berkley, MI, United States of America

Patrick Marchena