Frame connection structure and frame connection method

Abstract

A frame connection structure is provided that includes a first body member including an inner portion and an outer portion connected integrally to one another along a transverse direction to form a first closed cross section and including at least one flange extending from the inner portion and the outer portion. The frame connection structure further includes a second body member including an inner portion and an outer portion connected integrally to one another along a longitudinal direction to form a second closed cross section, wherein the second body member is spot welded to the at least one flange of the first body member.

Description

[0001] Cross-citation of related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0176380, filed on December 16, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a frame connection structure. Background Technology

[0004] Typically, a frame is the part that mounts multiple devices or body panels to form a chassis, and it is a structure corresponding to the vehicle's frame, which supports the loads transmitted from the body and the reaction forces of the front and rear axles.

[0005] A spatial frame is a type of frame that is formed by connecting steel plates or tubes, and it has the advantages of being lightweight and high-strength.

[0006] Within this spatial framework, the components are responsible for all the loads applied to the vehicle body; therefore, ensuring the connections between the components is more important than anything else.

[0007] Typically, components of the space frame are joined by CO2 welding or bolts, but these methods have some disadvantages in ensuring productivity, cost, and quality.

[0008] The information disclosed in the background section is only intended to enhance the understanding of the background of the present invention, and therefore may contain information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0009] This invention relates to a frame connection structure. Specific embodiments relate to a frame connection structure and frame connection method for vehicles.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a frame connection structure and method, wherein components with closed cross sections can be connected by spot welding.

[0011] The frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a first main component and a second main component. The first main component includes an inner portion and an outer portion integrally connected to each other in a transverse direction to form a first closed cross section, and includes at least one flange extending from the inner portion and the outer portion of the first main component. The second main component includes an inner portion and an outer portion integrally connected in a longitudinal direction to form a second closed cross section, and the second main component is spot-welded to the flange of the first main component.

[0012] The frame connection structure may also include a connecting part that connects to the internal part of the first main component and the internal part of the second main component.

[0013] The flange of the first main body member may include a first flange extending in a vertical direction from the inner and outer portions of the first main body member, and a second flange extending in a vehicle width direction from the inner and outer portions of the first main body member.

[0014] The first flange and the second flange of the first main body member can be formed by rolling the inner and outer portions of the first main body member into a flat shape.

[0015] The outer portion of the second main component can be spot welded to the first flange of the first main component, and the panel can be spot welded to the second flange of the first main component.

[0016] The connecting portion may include a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is spot-welded to a second flange of a first body member, and the second portion is bent from the first portion and spot-welded to an inner portion of the second body member.

[0017] The second main body component may include a first connecting end formed on the outer portion of the second main body component and spot-welded to the flange of the first main body component, and a second connecting end formed on the inner portion of the second main body component and spot-welded to the connecting portion.

[0018] The second joint end of the second main component can be located at a predetermined distance from the inner part of the first main component, wherein a welding space can be formed between the second joint end of the second main component and the inner part of the first main component, allowing a spot welding gun to enter between them.

[0019] The second body member may include at least one third flange extending from the inner and outer portions of the second body member.

[0020] The third flange of the second main body member can extend from the inner part and the outer part of the second main body member along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

[0021] The third flange can be formed by rolling the inner and outer portions of the second main component into a flat shape.

[0022] The connecting portion may include a first part, a second part, and a third part, wherein the first part is spot-welded to the flange of the first body member, the second part is integrally connected to the first part and spot-welded to the second joint end of the second body member to close the welding space, and the third part is integrally connected to the second part and spot-welded to the third flange.

[0023] A frame connection method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: step (a) forming a first closed cross section by connecting an inner portion and an outer portion integrally in a transverse direction to form a first main body member, the first main body member including a first flange and a second flange extending from the inner portion and the outer portion; step (b) forming a second closed cross section by connecting an inner portion and an outer portion integrally in a longitudinal direction to form a second main body member, the second main body member including a first joint end and a second joint end, the first joint end being spot-welded to the flange of the first main body member and forming a planar shape at the end of the outer portion of the second main body member, the second joint end forming a planar shape at the end of the inner portion of the second main body member; and step (c) spot-welding the first flange and the first joint end.

[0024] During step (c), spot welding of the first flange and the first joint end can be performed through the welding space located between the inner portion of the first main body component and the second joint end.

[0025] After step (c), the connecting part can be spot welded to the second flange and the second mating end.

[0026] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the assembly productivity, assembly cost and assembly quality of the vehicle body are ensured by connecting the connecting portion to a first main component and a second main component, which serve as a longitudinal frame and a transverse frame, respectively, wherein the first main component and the second main component have cross sections closed by spot welding.

[0027] Furthermore, the effects obtained or predicted through exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed directly or implicitly in the detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention. That is, various effects predicted according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed in the detailed description described later. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Since these accompanying drawings are only used to explain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the technical concept of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a view illustrating an example of a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention that can be applied to a vehicle.

[0030] Figure 2A and Figure 2B This is a perspective view showing a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view showing a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 4A and Figure 4B This is a view showing the first main component applied to a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 5A and Figure 5B This is a view showing a second main component applied to a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 6 This is a view showing the connection portion applied to a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 7 This is a view showing the connection state of the connecting portion and the second main component applied to the frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 This is a view illustrating a frame connection method for a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The embodiments of the present invention can be described using the following elements in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0038] 1: PBV 3: Lower Main Body

[0039] 5: Upper main body; 7: Chassis frame

[0040] 10: First main component; 11, 31: Internal parts

[0041] 13, 33: External part; 15: First closed section

[0042] 17: First flange 19: Second flange

[0043] 21, 43: Closed section; 30: Second main component

[0044] 35: Second closed section; 37: First joint end

[0045] 39: Second mating end; 41: Third flange

[0046] 50: Connecting part; 51: First part

[0047] 52: Part Two 53: Part Three

[0048] 61: Panel 71: Spot welding gun

[0049] 81: Welding space; 100: Frame connection structure Detailed Implementation

[0050] The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

[0051] To clearly describe the embodiments of the invention, parts irrelevant to the description have been omitted, and throughout the specification, the same reference numerals are attached to the same or similar parts.

[0052] Since the dimensions and thicknesses of each component shown in the accompanying drawings are arbitrarily depicted for ease of description, the invention is not necessarily limited to the dimensions and thicknesses shown in the drawings, and the thicknesses are enlarged to clearly represent the various parts and areas.

[0053] Furthermore, in the detailed description below, configuration names are categorized as first, second, etc., to distinguish configurations with the same relationship, and these configurations are not necessarily limited to the order described below.

[0054] Throughout the instruction manual, when a section includes a component, it implies that other components may also be included, rather than excluding them, unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0055] In addition, the terms described in the specification (such as unit, device, etc.) refer to a unit of an integrated structure that performs at least one function or operation.

[0056] Figure 1 This is a view illustrating an example of a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention that can be applied to a vehicle.

[0057] refer to Figure 1 The frame connection structure 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be applied, for example, to a purpose-based mobility vehicle (PBV) 1 based on an electric vehicle.

[0058] Here, PBV 1 refers to an environmentally friendly motor vehicle that provides passengers with necessary customized services during their journey from origin to destination. PBV 1 is capable of optimal route planning and convoy driving for each situation, and can also be a box-type vehicle with a large interior space.

[0059] Such a PBV 1 includes a skateboard-style lower body 3 and an upper body 5, which is a monocoque body mounted on the lower body 3.

[0060] The lower body 3 is also known in the industry as a rolling chassis and includes a chassis frame 7 on which the battery assembly (not shown) can be mounted.

[0061] The upper body 5 is a main body coupled to the lower body 3 and can form the driver's cab. The upper body 5 can be a spatial frame formed, for example, by a structure consisting of multiple components connected by steel plates or tubes.

[0062] In the industry, the vehicle width direction is referred to as the L direction, the vehicle length direction (front-to-back direction) is referred to as the T direction, and the vehicle height direction is referred to as the H direction. However, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the LTH direction as described above is not used as the reference direction, but the constituent elements are described below by setting the vehicle width direction, the vehicle length direction, and the vertical direction.

[0063] Furthermore, in the following text, an end (one end or the one end) may be defined as any end or as a specific part (one end or the other end) including that end.

[0064] Additionally, in the following text, the inner side can be defined as the inner side of the cab that constitutes the vehicle body, the outer side is the outer side of the cab, the lateral direction is the front-to-back direction of the vehicle body, and the vertical direction is the up-and-down direction.

[0065] Meanwhile, the frame connection structure 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a component connection structure of the upper main body 5 as described above, and is a structure in which straight components are connected to the vehicle body in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction.

[0066] The frame connection structure 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes components of the upper main body 5, such as a top side, side beams, and a connection structure for connecting the top side and side beams in the vertical direction. The frame connection structure 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a connection structure for connecting a predetermined panel to the components.

[0067] The following section will describe an example of connecting the top side and the upper part of the column. Since the structure and method of connecting the side beam and the lower part of the column are the same as those of connecting the top side and the upper part of the column, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0068] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the frame connection structure 100 can be a structure in which components with closed cross sections are joined by spot welding.

[0069] Figure 2A and Figure 2B This is a perspective view showing a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] refer to Figure 2A and Figure 2B According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the frame connection structure 100 may include a first main component 10, a second main component 30, and a joint 50.

[0071] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view showing a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4A and Figure 4B This is a view showing the first main component applied to a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] refer to Figure 3 , Figure 4A and Figure 4B In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first main component 10 is as follows: Figure 1 The upper body 5 shown has a transverse frame, and may be a frame formed, for example, by roll forming.

[0073] The first main component 10 includes an inner portion 11 and an outer portion 13, a first closed section 15 formed by the combination of the inner portion 11 and the outer portion 13, and a first flange 17 and a second flange 19 extending from the inner portion 11 and the outer portion 13.

[0074] The first closed section 15 can form an approximately quadrilateral closed segment 21 between the inner part 11 and the outer part 13 along the transverse direction.

[0075] The first flange 17 is formed to extend vertically from the inner portion 11 and the outer portion 13. The second flange 19 is formed to extend vertically from the inner portion 11 and the outer portion 13 in the vehicle width direction.

[0076] Here, the first flange 17 and the second flange 19 extend laterally on both sides of the closed section 21, which is located between them. For example, based on the figures, the first flange 17 and the second flange 19 are formed on the lower and upper sides of the first main body member 10, respectively.

[0077] These first flanges 17 and second flanges 19 can be formed by rolling the inner portion 11 and the outer portion 13 into a flat shape. That is, the first flanges 17 and second flanges 19 can be formed with flat flange surfaces.

[0078] Figure 5A and Figure 5B This is a view showing a second main component applied to a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] refer to Figure 3 , Figure 5A and Figure 5B In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second main body component 30 is as follows: Figure 1The upper main body 5 shown has a vertical frame, and can be a frame formed, for example, by roll forming. The second main body member 30 can be spot welded to the first flange 17 of the first main body member 10.

[0080] The second main component 30 includes an inner portion 31 and an outer portion 33, a second closed section 35 formed by connecting the inner portion 31 and the outer portion 33, a first joint end 37 formed in the outer portion 33, a second joint end 39 formed in the inner portion 31, and a third flange 41 extending from the inner portion 31 and the outer portion 33.

[0081] The second closed section 35 can form an approximately quadrilateral closed segment 43 between the inner portion 31 and the outer portion 33 along the transverse direction. Here, based on the transverse direction of the second main member 30, the outer portion 33 has a longer length than the inner portion 31. That is, the length between the two ends along the longitudinal direction of the inner portion 31 is less than the length between the two ends along the longitudinal direction of the outer portion 33.

[0082] The first connecting end 37 is formed in a planar shape at the end of the outer portion 33 of the second main body member 30 and can be spot welded to the first flange 17 of the first main body member 10.

[0083] Furthermore, the second connecting end 39 is formed as a planar shape at the end of the inner portion 31 of the second main body member 30, and can be spot welded to the connecting portion 50.

[0084] The third flange 41 can extend from the inner portion 31 and the outer portion 33 of the second main body member 30 along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

[0085] Here, the third flange 41 can be formed to extend longitudinally along both sides of the closed section 43. The third flange 41 can be formed with flat rolled edges on both the inner portion 31 and the outer portion 33. That is, the third flange 41 can be formed with a flat flange surface.

[0086] refer to Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 3 In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connecting portion 50 is used to connect the inner portion 11 of the first main body member 10 and the inner portion 31 of the second main body member 30.

[0087] The connecting part 50 is a panel part that is pressed into a predetermined shape and is connected to the inner part 11 of the first main body member 10 and the inner part 31 of the second main body member 30.

[0088] Figure 6This is a view showing the connection portion applied to a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0089] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 6 In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connecting portion 50 includes a first portion 51, a second portion 52, and a third portion 53 that are integrally connected to each other.

[0090] The first part 51 is spot welded to the second flange 19 of the first main body component 10. The first part 51 can be spot welded to the side where the inner part 11 of the second flange 19 is located.

[0091] The second part 52 is bent from the first part 51 and can be spot welded to the second joint end 39 of the second body member 30.

[0092] Furthermore, the third part 53 is formed by bending from the second part 52, as follows: Figure 7 As shown, the third part can be spot welded to the third flange 41 of the second main body component 30.

[0093] Here, with the first part 51 spot-welded to the side where the inner part 11 of the second flange 19 is located, the panel 61, including the top panel, can be spot-welded to the side where the outer part 13 of the second flange 19 is located, as described above.

[0094] In the following, a frame connection method (assembly method) of the frame connection structure 100 configured as described above according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0095] Figures 8 to 10 This is a view illustrating a frame connection method for a frame connection structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0096] refer to Figure 8 First, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a first main body member 10 is formed by connecting an inner portion 11 including a first flange 17 and a second flange 19 and an outer portion 13 including a first flange and a second flange to form a first closed section 15.

[0097] Then, a second closed section 35 is formed by connecting the inner portion 31 including the third flange 41 and the outer portion 33 including the third flange, thereby forming the second main body member 30.

[0098] The first connecting end 37 of the second main component 30 overlaps and matches the side where the outer portion 13 of the first flange 17 of the first main component 10 is located.

[0099] Here, since the outer portion 33 of the second main body member 30 has a longer length than the inner portion 31, the second joint end 39 is provided at a predetermined distance from the inner portion 11 of the first main body member 10, and a welding space 81 is formed between the inner portion 11 and the second joint end 39.

[0100] Then, the spot welding gun 71 enters through the welding space 81, so that the first flange 17 and the first mating end 37 can be spot welded by the spot welding gun 71.

[0101] Next, in such Figure 9 In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown, the connecting portion 50 is spot welded to the second flange 19 of the first main body member 10 and the second mating end 39 of the second main body member 30.

[0102] During this process, the first portion 51 of the connecting part 50 is spot-welded to the inner portion 11 of the second flange 19. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second portion 52 of the connecting part 50 is spot-welded to the second mating end 39, and the welding space 81 is closed by the second portion 52.

[0103] Here, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the spot welding gun 71 enters the interior of the second body member 30 through the through hole 34 formed in the outer portion 33 of the second body member 30, and thus the second joint end 39 and the second portion 52 of the connecting portion 50 can be spot welded.

[0104] Then, in such Figure 7 In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown, the third portion 53 of the connecting portion 50 is spot welded to the third flange 41 of the second main body member 30.

[0105] Subsequently, in such Figure 10 In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown, a panel 61, such as a top panel, is spot-welded along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body to the side where the outer portion 13 of the second flange 19 is located.

[0106] According to the frame connection structure and method described herein as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a first main component 10, which is a horizontal frame, and a second main component 30, which is a vertical frame, are connected together by spot welding.

[0107] Therefore, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, assembly productivity, assembly cost, and assembly quality of the vehicle body can be ensured without using CO2 welding or bolted connections to the frame components.

[0108] While the invention has been described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments now considered practical, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A frame connection structure, comprising a first main component, a second main component, and a connecting portion: The first main component includes: An inner portion and an outer portion, which are connected to each other in the transverse direction to form a first closed section; and At least one flange extends from the inner and outer portions of the first body member; as well as The second main component includes: An inner portion and an outer portion are joined together along a longitudinal direction to form a second closed section, wherein the second body member is spot-welded to the at least one flange of the first body member; A first joining end, the first joining end being formed on the outer portion of the second body member and spot-welded to the at least one flange of the first body member; and The second joint end is formed on the internal portion of the second main body member; The connecting portion is connected to the inner portion of the first main body component and the inner portion of the second main body component, wherein the second joining end of the second main body component is spot welded to the connecting portion; in: The second joint end of the second main body component is located at a predetermined distance from the inner portion of the first main body component; and A welding space is formed between the second joint end of the second main body component and the internal portion of the first main body component. This welding space is configured to allow a spot welding torch to enter between the second joint end of the second main body component and the internal portion of the first main body component. The connecting part includes: The first part is spot-welded to at least one flange of the first body member; The second part is integrally connected to the first part, wherein the second part is spot-welded to the second joint end of the second body member to close the weld space.

2. The frame connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the second main body member further includes at least one second flange extending from the inner portion and the outer portion of the second main body member.

3. The frame connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the at least one second flange of the second main body member extends from the inner portion and the outer portion of the second main body member along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

4. The frame connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the at least one second flange is formed by rolling the inner and outer portions of the second main body member into a flat shape.

5. The frame connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the connecting part further includes: The third part is integrally connected to the second part and spot-welded to the at least one second flange.

6. A frame connection method, comprising: Step (a) forms a first main body component, the first main body component including an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion and the outer portion being integrally connected in a transverse direction to form a first closed cross section, wherein the first main body component includes a first flange and a second flange extending from the inner portion and the outer portion; Step (b) forms a second main body component, the second main body component including an inner part and an outer part, the inner part and the outer part being connected integrally along the longitudinal direction to form a second closed section, the second main body component including a first joint end and a second joint end, the first joint end being spot welded to the first flange of the first main body component and forming a planar shape at the end of the outer part of the second main body component, the second joint end forming a planar shape at the end of the inner part of the second main body component; Step (c) involves spot welding the first flange and the first mating end, wherein the spot welding of the first flange and the first mating end is performed through the welding space located between the inner portion of the first body member and the second mating end; as well as Step (d) involves spot welding the connecting portion to the second flange and the second mating end; The connecting part includes: The first part is spot-welded to the first flange of the first main body component; The second part is integrally connected to the first part, wherein the second part is spot-welded to the second joint end of the second body member to close the weld space.

7. The frame connection method according to claim 6, wherein the connecting part further comprises: The third part is integrally connected to the second part and spot-welded to the second flange.

8. The frame connection method according to claim 6, further comprising step (e) spot welding the panel to the second flange of the first body member.

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