Frame connection structure

Abstract

To provide a frame joint structure which allows vehicle body members having closed cross-sections to be conjoined through entire surface matching.SOLUTION: A frame joint structure 100 can include i) body members 10 in which threads are formed in mutually different directions on outer surfaces of both end portions, and ii) joints 50 including member-conjoining portions that are threadedly engageable with both end portions of the body members.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a frame connection structure, and more particularly, to a connection structure of a vehicle space frame.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, a frame is a part where various devices and a vehicle body constituting a vehicle are installed, and corresponds to a structure of an automobile skeleton that supports loads transmitted from the vehicle body and reaction forces of front and rear axles.

[0003] A space frame is a type of frame that forms a skeleton (support structure) by welding members in the form of steel plates or hollow pipes. Since it has the advantages of being light and highly rigid, it is applied to ultra-lightweight and low-volume production vehicle bodies.

[0004] In such a space frame, members are responsible for all loads applied to the vehicle body, and thus it is most important to ensure the connection rigidity of the members.

[0005] However, if welding, adapter welding, bolting, etc. are applied outside the members, breakage may occur due to fatigue, impact, and torsional loads, resulting in separation of the joint between the members.

[0006] The matters described in this background art section are created to enhance the understanding of the background of the invention, and may include matters that are not prior art already known to those having ordinary knowledge in the field to which the technology belongs.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a frame connection structure capable of achieving full-surface matching connection between vehicle body members having a closed cross-section.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0008] The frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention can include: i) a body member having threads formed in different directions on the outer surfaces of both ends; and ii) a joint including member connection portions that can be screwed to both ends of the body member.

[0009] Further, in the frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, a large number of the body members can be arranged in multi-axial directions in the longitudinal direction, width direction, and vertical direction of the vehicle body.

[0010] Further, in the frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, a large number of the joints can be provided in which a plurality of the member connection portions are branched in the multi-axial directions.

[0011] Further, in the frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, the body member and the member connection portion can be provided with a circular cross-section.

[0012] Further, in the frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, the body member can include a first male thread portion formed on the outer surface of one end portion and a second male thread portion formed on the outer surface of the other end portion in a thread direction opposite to that of the first male thread portion.

[0013] Further, in the frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, the joint can include a first female thread portion formed on the inner surface of the member connection portion screwed to the first male thread portion and a second female thread portion formed on the inner surface of the member connection portion screwed to the second male thread portion in a thread direction opposite to that of the first female thread portion.

[0014] In addition, in the frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second male thread portions may be threadedly coupled to the main fastening setting sections of the first and second female thread portions with a margin thread section therebetween.

[0015] In addition, in the frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, the body member may further include tapered guide portions formed between the first male thread portion and one end and between the second male thread portion and the other end, respectively.

[0016] In addition, in the frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, the body member may have a section in which the first and second male thread portions are formed and a section between the first and second male thread portions that are coaxially linear.

[0017] In addition, in the frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, the body member may have sections in which the first and second male thread portions are formed that are linear and coaxial, and the section between the first and second male thread portions may have a curved shape. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] The embodiment of the present invention can increase the joint rigidity and torsional rigidity of the entire space frame by providing full surface matching joints between body members 10 having the same closed cross section.

[0019] Other advantages obtained or expected by the embodiments of the present invention are directly or implicitly disclosed in the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention. In other words, various advantages expected by the embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the detailed description below. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] The drawings are for reference in describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and therefore the technical concept of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the drawings.

[0021] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing a space frame as a vehicle body to which a frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. [Diagram 2] It is an assembled perspective view showing a frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is an exploded perspective view showing a frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a drawing showing a body member and a joint applied to a frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a drawing showing an assembly process of a frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a drawing showing an assembly process of a frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a drawing showing a modification example of a body member applied to a frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs can easily implement them. However, the present invention can be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0023] To clearly explain the present invention, parts not related to the explanation are omitted, and the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar components throughout the specification.

[0024] The size and thickness of each configuration shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for convenience of explanation. Therefore, the present invention is not necessarily limited to those shown in the drawings, and the thickness is enlarged for clearly expressing a plurality of parts and regions.

[0025] In the detailed description below, the names of the components are divided into first, second, etc., but these components are identical and are used to distinguish them, and the following description is not necessarily limited to that order.

[0026] Throughout the specification, when a part is said to include a certain element, this does not mean that it excludes other elements and that it may further include other elements, unless specifically stated to the contrary.

[0027] Furthermore, terms such as "...part" and "...means" used in the specification refer to a comprehensive structural unit that performs at least one function or operation.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle body to which a frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, a frame connection structure 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied to a purpose-built vehicle (PBV), such as an unmanned vehicle.

[0030] The PBV vehicle includes a skateboard-type underbody as a chassis, and an upper body as a vehicle body mounted on the underbody.

[0031] In addition, the upper body may be a space frame 1 formed by connecting steel plates or pipes to form a skeleton. Furthermore, the frame connection structure 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied to a connection structure of a space frame 1 formed by connecting a number of vehicle body parts.

[0032] Here, the space frame 1 may include an underframe, an upper frame, and a side frame that connects the underframe and the upper frame in the vertical direction at the side.

[0033] However, it should not be understood that the scope of protection of the present invention is necessarily limited thereto, and the technical concept of the present invention can be applied to any frame connection structure of various configurations that connects a number of vehicle body parts.

[0034] In addition, the end (one end / side end or other end / side end) below can be defined as either one end, or can also be defined as a certain portion including that end (one end / side end or other end / side end).

[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, a frame connection structure 100 is provided that can increase connection rigidity and torsional strength by full surface matching connection between vehicle body members (hereinafter referred to as body members) having closed cross sections.

[0036] FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view showing a frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] 1 to 3, the frame connection structure 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention basically includes a number of body members 10 and a number of joints 50.

[0038] In the embodiment of the present invention, the body member 10 is a vehicle body member that constitutes a space frame 1. The body member 10 can constitute an underframe, an upper frame, and a side frame of the space frame 1 through joints 50, which will be described later.

[0039] The body member 10 is arranged in multiple axial directions, i.e., the longitudinal direction, the transverse direction, and the vertical direction of the vehicle body. The body member 10 has threads 11 and 12 formed in different directions on the outer surfaces of both ends. Here, the body member 10 is provided in the form of a hollow pipe having a circular cross section and a predetermined shape and length.

[0040] The body member 10 as described above includes a first external male thread portion 11 formed on the outer surface of one end portion, and a second external male thread portion 12 formed on the outer surface of the other end portion in a thread direction opposite to the thread direction of the first external male thread portion 11.

[0041] In an embodiment of the present invention, the joint 50 is for interconnecting the body members 10. The joint 50 includes a member coupling portion 51 that can be threadedly coupled to both end portions of the body member 10. The member coupling portion 51 is integrally formed with the joint 50 and can be branched in multi-axial directions of the vehicle body longitudinal direction, vehicle width direction, and vertical direction. Here, the member coupling portion 51 has a set length and is provided in a hollow pipe form having a circular cross section.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 4, the configurations of the body member 10 and the joint 50 as described above will be described more specifically. First, the body member 10 includes a first section S1 in which the first and second external male thread portions 11 and 12 are respectively formed, and a second section S2 between the first and second external male thread portions 11 and 12. The first section S1 and the second section S2 are provided in a linear form connected by the same axis O.

[0043] The joint 50 includes a first internal female thread portion 61 formed on the inner surface of the member coupling portion 51 that is threadedly coupled to the first external male thread portion 11 of the body member 10. And the joint 50 includes a second internal female thread portion 62 formed on the inner surface of the member coupling portion 51 that is threadedly coupled to the second external male thread portion 12 of the body member 10. The second internal female thread portion 62 is formed in a thread direction opposite to the thread direction of the first internal female thread portion 61.

[0044] Here, the first and second external male thread portions 11 and 12 can be threadedly coupled to the main fastening setting sections 65 of the first and second internal female thread portions 61 and 62 with a clearance thread section 15.

[0045] Further, the body member 10 as described above includes tapered guide portions 19 formed between the first male thread portion 11 and one side end, and between the second male thread portion 12 and the other one side end, respectively.

[0046] Hereinafter, the assembly process of the frame connection structure 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0047] FIGS. 5 and 6 are drawings showing the assembly process of the frame connection structure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 5, first, in the embodiment of the present invention, one side end of the body member 10 is temporarily fastened to the member coupling portion 51 of the one side joint 50.

[0049] In this case, one side end of the body member 10 is inserted into the member coupling portion 51 through the guide portion 19, and the body member 10 is rotated in one side direction. Thereafter, the body member 10 is temporarily fastened to the first female thread portion 61 of the member coupling portion 51 through the slack thread section 15 of the first male thread portion 11.

[0050] Thereby, in the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to secure a space through which the other side end of the body member 10 can enter the member coupling portion 51 of the other one side joint 50.

[0051] Next, in the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the body member 10 is rotated in the other side direction. Thereafter, the body member 10 becomes loose from the first female thread portion 61 of the member coupling portion 51 through the first male thread portion 11. As a result, one side end of the body member 10 is finally fastened to the final fastening setting section 65 of the first female thread portion 61 through the first male thread portion 11.

[0052] At the same time, the other side end of the body member 10 is inserted into the member coupling portion 51 of the other side joint 50 through the guide portion 19, and is finally fastened to the final fastening setting section 65 of the second female thread portion 62 through the second male thread portion 12 at the member coupling portion 51.

[0053] Here, in an embodiment of the present invention, the margin thread section 15 of the first and second male thread portions 11, 12 causes the loosening direction of the body member 10 at one side joint 50 to act in the tightening direction of the body member 10 at the other side joint 50.

[0054] As a result, in an embodiment of the present invention, loosening of the body member 10 relative to one side joint 50 and the other side joint 50 is prevented, and the body member 10 can be maintained in a normally fastened state through the first and second male thread portions 11, 12 in the main fastening setting section 65 of the first and second female thread portions 61, 62 of the joint 50.

[0055] As described above, according to the frame connection structure 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the body member 10 can be screwed to the joint 50 through the threaded portions 11 and 12 having different thread directions formed at both ends of the body member 10.

[0056] Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the full-surface matching connection between the body members 10 having the same closed cross section can increase the connection rigidity and torsional rigidity of the entire space frame 1. In other words, in the embodiment of the present invention, the separation of the connection parts between the body members 10 can prevent breakage due to fatigue, torsional load, etc.

[0057] In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, the body member 10 and the joint 50 are connected through male and female threads having different thread directions to form the space frame 1, thereby preventing torque loosening of the body member 10.

[0058] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the body member 10 can be completely joined between cross-sections through a threaded connection, and frames with various specifications and styles can be easily realized.

[0059] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, since auxiliary materials and welding equipment for connecting the body member 10 are not required, the number of frame manufacturing processes and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0060] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a modified example of a body member applied to a frame connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 7, the body member 10 according to this modified example is provided with a first section S1 in which first and second male screw portions 11 and 12 are respectively formed in a linear form on the same axis O, and a second section S2 between the first and second male screw portions 11 and 12 may be provided in a curved form.

[0062] Such a body member 10 has a curved profile applied thereto and can be easily joined to the member joint portion 51 of the joint 50 without interference through the first and second male screw portions 11 and 12. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, various designs of the space frame can be realized.

[0063] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made and implemented within the scope of the claims, the detailed description of the invention, and the attached drawings, and it is natural that this also belongs to the scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0064] 1: Space frame 10: Body member 11: First male screw portion 12: Second male screw portion 15: Slack screw section 19: Guide portion 50: Joint 51: Member coupling part 61: First female thread part 62: Second female thread part 65: Main fastening setting section O: Coaxial S1: First section S2: Second section 100: Frame connection structure

Claims

A frame connection structure applied to a connection structure of a space frame of a vehicle body, comprising: A plurality of body members in the form of hollow pipes constituting the space frame, with threads of different directions formed on the outer surfaces of both ends; A plurality of joints including member connection portions that can be screwed to both ends of the corresponding body members; A frame connection structure including the above.

2. Each of the plurality of body members is arranged in a corresponding direction among multi-axial directions including the vehicle body longitudinal direction, vehicle width direction, and vertical direction; Each of the plurality of joints is configured to connect the corresponding body member through a member connection portion protruding in the direction of the corresponding body member. The frame connection structure according to claim 1.

3. The body member and the member connection portion have a circular cross-section. The frame connection structure according to claim 1.

4. The body member includes: A first male thread portion formed on the outer surface of one end; A second male thread portion formed on the outer surface of the other end in a thread direction opposite to that of the first male thread portion; The frame connection structure according to claim 1.

5. The joint includes: A first female thread portion formed on the inner surface of the member connection portion screwed to the first male thread portion; A second female thread portion formed on the inner surface of the member connection portion screwed to the second male thread portion in a thread direction opposite to that of the first female thread portion; The frame connection structure according to claim 4.

6. The first and second male thread portions are screwed to the main fastening setting sections of the first and second female thread portions with a clearance thread section. The frame connection structure according to claim 4.

7. The body member further includes tapered guide portions respectively formed between the first male thread portion and one side end, and between the second male thread portion and the other side end. The frame connection structure according to claim 4.

8. The body member is provided with the sections where the first and second male thread portions are formed, and the section between the first and second male thread portions in a coaxial linear form. The frame connection structure according to claim 4.

9. The body member includes: The sections where the first and second male thread portions are formed are provided in a coaxial linear form. The frame connection structure according to claim 4, wherein a section between the first and second male thread portions is provided in a curved form.

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