Vehicle Frame Assembly Collar Connection Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle frame assembly methods require numerous welds, increasing production time and cost, adding weight, and risking quality defects, while also necessitating additional bulkheads that negatively impact fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle frame assembly that incorporates a collar assembly with a cylindrical mounting pin and a main frame with a saddle, where the mounting pin's curved face engages the saddle to enhance stiffness, reducing the need for bulkheads and welds by directly connecting the subframe to the main frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multiple welds and bulkheads are used to connect the subframe to the main frame, then the stiffness and rigidity of the joint are improved, but the assembly time, production cost, and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mounting pin and collar into a single integrated collar assembly that directly connects the subframe to the main frame. This merging eliminates the need for separate bulkheads and multiple welds, reducing assembly steps while maintaining joint stiffness through the engineered collar geometry and direct mounting pin connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary bulkheads from the traditional frame connection design. By removing these redundant structural elements and replacing them with a streamlined collar assembly, the patent reduces weight and assembly complexity while achieving the required joint rigidity through optimized connection geometry.
2Strength
If multiple welds are used to secure the joint, then the connection strength is improved, but the number of quality defect opportunities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar assembly merges multiple connection functions into a single integrated component that requires fewer welds. By combining the mounting pin, collar, and connection features into one assembly, the patent reduces the total number of weld joints, thereby minimizing quality defect opportunities while maintaining connection strength through the engineered collar structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If bulkheads are added to the frame structure, then the structural rigidity is improved, but the vehicle weight increases and fuel efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates bulkheads from the frame connection design. By removing these heavy structural elements and replacing them with a lightweight collar assembly that achieves rigidity through optimized geometry and direct connection, the invention reduces vehicle weight while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the structural parameters by transitioning from bulky bulkhead-based connections to a compact collar assembly with engineered thickness and geometry. This parameter change achieves the required structural rigidity with significantly reduced material volume and weight, improving fuel efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
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.