Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Magna International Inc.

Robb Louis Augustine

Eric J Boettcher

David Michael Edwards

Kerry Stephen McClure

Jeremy Paul Lucas

Matthew R Lux

James Paul Ryan

Dennis Byungip Chung

Emily Nutwell

Yaniv Rock

Jarad W Hall

Donald Lariviere

Brian E Dressel

Nick A Massaro

Thomas H Kim

Steven M Kovach

Benjamin J Meaige

Joshua Targownik

Matthew W Wolfe

Alexander Hutter

Patrick Ellison

Jared S Cox

John Eric Werling

Brandon David Koester

Kevin Scott Schnipke

Aimee R Sadle

Martyn Morrish

Jamison Weirup

Christopher Dendis

James H Nazarian, Jr

Ceby Philip

Donald Herner

Shohan Islam

Neil D Salmons

Gerald Allen Flint

J Nicholas Meister

Chad James Stewart

Anthony D Prescenzi

Daniel A Paolini

Carlo Virgilio Porretta

Randall A Wieland

Michael Monastra

Anthony R Berman

Keith G Strickland

Nicky Thomas Strock, Ii

Brian T Bautsch

Daniel G McCarron

Andy Hughes

Kerry Stephen Mcclure

Emily C Nutwell

A lightweight vehicle pan assembly and for attachment to a vehicle frame via welding includes at least one metal flange and a molded pan body. The at least one metal flange has a weld portion adapted for welded attachment to the vehicle frame and an interface portion extending from the weld portion. The molded pan body has a base wall and at least one side wall extending upward from the base wall. The interface portion of the at least one metal flange is embedded in the at least one side wall of the molded pan body. The interface portion includes at least two rows of apertures defined therein for increasing a bond strength between the at least one metal flange and the molded pan body.

Lightweight vehicle pan assembly and method for attachment to vehicle frame via welding

A rear vehicle frame includes a first longitudinal side frame member, a second longitudinal side frame member, a storage bin, and a center longitudinal frame member. The storage bin is disposed laterally between the first and second longitudinal side frame members adjacent rear end portions of the first and second longitudinal side frame members. Lateral sides of the storage bin are respectively secured to the first and second longitudinal side frame members. The center longitudinal frame member is disposed laterally between and spaced apart from the first and second longitudinal side frame members. The center longitudinal frame member extends from a rear end of the storage bin to a forward end of the storage bin for absorbing energy in a rear crash event.

Rear vehicle frame and center longitudinal frame member therefor

A seal inserted into a circular opening in a work piece from a first direction for sealing a component inserted into the circular opening from a second direction is disclosed. The seal body has a ring shape and includes an upper edge and a lower edge. An upper seal extends radially outward and downward from the upper edge of the seal body, a lower seal extends radially inward and upward from the lower edge of the seal body, and a clip secures the seal to the circular opening.

Damper seal

A vehicle frame assembly includes a main frame part including a side sill extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle frame assembly. The side sill has a C-shaped cross-section with a top and bottom walls, an inboard sidewall interconnecting the top and bottom walls, and an open outboard sidewall. A rear frame part is secured to the main frame part and includes a rear frame member extending in the longitudinal direction. The rear frame member has a U-shaped cross-section with an inboard and outboard sidewalls, a bottom wall interconnecting the inboard and outboard sidewalls, and an open top wall. The inboard sidewall at a rearward end portion of the side sill includes a section bulging away from the open outboard sidewall in a lateral direction of the vehicle frame assembly, and the inboard sidewall of the rear frame member is secured to the bulging section of the side sill.

Vehicle frame assembly

A method of joining a first body made of a first material to a second body made of a second material is disclosed. The method includes the steps of placing an adhesive between the first body and second body, moving the first body toward and into contact with the second body with the adhesive between the first body and the second body, pre-curing the adhesive, and curing the first body and second body in an oven. Pre-curing may be done by induction curing along a bonding line, pre-curing adhesive in a low temperature oven, or using a two-part adhesive.

Joint for vehicle components

A method of single-sided resistance welding includes providing a first workpiece and a second workpiece. The first workpiece is positioned so that at least a portion of the first workpiece is in contact with at least a portion of the second workpiece. A weld electrode is positioned in contact with the first workpiece, and a ground electrode is positioned in contact with the second workpiece. A determination is made as to whether a gap or other high resistance condition is present between the first workpiece and the second workpiece. If a gap or other high resistance condition is determined to be present between the first workpiece and the second workpiece, the gap or other high resistance condition is reduced, and the first workpiece and the second workpiece are joined through welding.

Method for single-sided resistance welding

Disclosed are methods, systems and apparatus for manufacturing complex three dimensional open structures by cold forming the component from unhardened metal stock and then selectively heating and quenching the metal to provide the desired strength profile across the component. The metal is initially formed of unheated and unhardened metal through a combination of rolling, stamping and/or milling operations to produce a component having a complex three dimensional open structure. The formed component is then hardened in strategically predetermined areas by sequentially heating and quenching the predetermined areas of the component. The heating and cooling elements are, in turn, provided on at least one robotic apparatus configured for moving the elements across the surface of the component in a manner sufficient to achieve the desired pattern of hardened and unhardened regions across the component.

Tailored hardening of boron steel

A battery mounting assembly for a vehicle includes a battery tray configured to carry an associated vehicle battery and a battery tray support structure mounted to an underside of the vehicle. The battery tray is slidably mounted to the battery tray support structure for movement between a first operational position and a second maintenance position. The second maintenance position is laterally spaced apart from and below the first operational position.

Battery mounting assembly

A frame assembly for a vehicle includes a subframe, a collar assembly with a collar member and a mounting pin, and a main frame with a saddle. The main frame has a contact side that faces toward the collar assembly and the saddle is located on the contact side. The subframe is connected to the main frame with a bolt that extends from the subframe and into a bore in the mounting pin. The mounting pin is in contact with the saddle.

Vehicle frame assembly and method

A vehicle frame assembly, system and method includes a vehicle frame assembly having a variable length longitudinal frame component. The longitudinal frame component is formed at a first length when used on a first vehicle type and formed at a second length when used on a second vehicle type.

Vehicle frame side sill joints

Vehicle center frame member joints

A towing hitch assembly for use with a vehicle and method is provided and includes a towing hitch frame structure, the towing hitch frame structure having a front surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The front surface can be configured to face away from the vehicle. A towing hitch can be located adjacent the towing hitch frame structure, and a mounting assembly can be configured to mount the towing hitch frame structure to a vehicle frame. The mounting assembly can include a first bracket configured to be adjacent the vehicle frame, and a second bracket capable of receiving the first bracket, the second bracket extending along the bottom surface and the front surface of the towing hitch frame structure. The towing hitch assembly according to the disclosed subject matter provides for, among other features, improved styling, safety, loading and bumper attachment.

Towing hitch apparatus and method

A spare tire hoist may be provided. A retention cable may be used to retain a spare tire against a surface of a motor vehicle. A tensioning spring may be used to tension the retention cable when the spare tire is in a storage position. A wheel plate engages the spare tire and cooperates with the retention cable and the tensioning spring to maintain the spare tire in the storage position. The wheel plate may include an insert portion that engages a center aperture of a wheel rim of the spare tire. A flange portion that substantially surrounds the insert portion and engages a peripheral surface of the wheel rim may also be provided. A reinforcement ring may be included in the wheel plate, substantially coextensive with the insert portion and extending within a substantially hollow region of the flange portion. The reinforcement ring may provide mechanical reinforcement to the wheel plate.

Spare tire hoist system with composite wheel plate having spring recess

An aerodynamic spare tire cover system is provided for use with a spare tire stored on a vehicle underbody. The cover system can be used to cover a full sized spare tire or a temporary spare tire, while providing the same aerodynamic qualities. The cover system includes an annular spare tire cover defining a central aperture, a removable center cap for selectively covering the central aperture, a center spacer supported by the annular spare tire cover that is adjustable between a first position and a second position depending on whether a full sized spare or temporary spare is being covered, and removable spacers supported by the annular spare tire cover. A full sized spare tire and the center spacer in the first position space the spare tire cover the same distance from a position on the vehicle underbody, on the opposite side of the spare tire, as a temporary spare tire, and the center spacer in the second position.

Spare tire undercover

A structural support bracket for a rear cargo pan of a vehicle includes a forward end that is secured to a rear cross member and a rearward end that is secured to the rear cargo pan adjacent a center portion thereof so as to support the rear cargo pan against deflection during use. The forward end of the support bracket is secured to both a downwardly directed surface and a rearwardly directed surface of the rear cross member. The structural support bracket reduces deflection of the cargo pan and reduces generation of impact boom noises otherwise caused thereby.

Impact boom noise reducing panel reinforcement

Growing community of inventors

Dublin, OH, United States of America

Robb Louis Augustine