A vehicle is disclosed having a composite cargo body assembled in a manner that may improve thermal efficiency, fuel efficiency, and costs of manufacturing.

A vehicle is disclosed having a composite cargo body assembled in a manner that may improve thermal efficiency, fuel efficiency, and costs of manufacturing.

A method of assembling vehicle parts, the method including: measuring at least one of a dimension or a characteristic of each of plural types of vehicle parts, and, for types of vehicle parts of which there are plural in stock, measuring at least one of a dimension or a characteristic of each one of the plural vehicle parts that are in stock; determining a combination of the plural types of vehicle parts by selecting specific vehicle parts from among the types of vehicle parts of which there are plural in stock, such that the selected specific vehicle parts closely approximate specific vehicle specification reference values; and assembling the plural types of vehicle parts in accordance with the combination that has been determined.

Unit with longitudinal beam and front plate for a motor-vehicle front structure, comprising a longitudinal beam in the form of a hollow profile and a front plate rigidly connected to a front end of said longitudinal beam. The longitudinal beam comprises a first beam element defining an upper wall, a lower wall and a first side wall of the longitudinal beam and a second beam element having a wall defining a second side wall of the longitudinal beam. The front plate has a rear face facing towards the longitudinal beam to which there are welded a first flange and a second flange which are separate from each other, for connecting the front end of the longitudinal beam. The first flange is a C-shaped bracket with an upper wall, a lower wall and a side wall respectively welded to the upper wall, the lower wall and the first side wall defined by said first beam element. The second flange is an L-shaped bracket, with a first wall welded to the rear face of the front plate and a second wall facing towards said second side wall defined by said second beam element. The above mentioned welds are electric spot welds. The two flanges may have different thickness.

A method for manufacturing a unitary body side structural frame for a vehicle is provided. The method comprises providing a plurality of blanks, joining the blanks to each other to form a composite blank wherein joining the blanks includes forming one or more overlapping regions formed by partially overlapping two blanks and deforming the composite blank to form the unitary body side structural frame. A unitary body side structural frame as obtained by any of the methods herein described is also provided.

A method for manufacturing a unitary body side structural frame for a vehicle is provided. The method comprises providing a plurality of blanks, joining the blanks to each other to form a composite blank wherein joining the blanks includes forming one or more overlapping regions formed by partially overlapping two blanks and deforming the composite blank to form the unitary body side structural frame. A unitary body side structural frame as obtained by any of the methods herein described is also provided.

A braking system for a vehicle includes a first axle attached to a chassis and rotatably supporting two front wheels, with a first brake including a first electronic brake controller for controlling application of braking to the front wheels. A second axle rotatably supports two rear wheels and is detachably connected to the chassis and has a second electronic brake controller and a second brake attached thereto for braking the rear wheels. Each of the electronic brake controllers has an independent power source. The system also includes an electronic park brake controller and parking brake. A vehicle control unit is in communication with each of the electronic brake controllers for coordinating control of the braking system. One or more communications network cables, which may be wired or wireless, connect the electronic brake controllers. An electrical connector allows for swapping the second axle, which requires no fluidic connections.

A braking system for a vehicle includes a first axle attached to a chassis and rotatably supporting two front wheels, with a first brake including a first electronic brake controller for controlling application of braking to the front wheels. A second axle rotatably supports two rear wheels and is detachably connected to the chassis and has a second electronic brake controller and a second brake attached thereto for braking the rear wheels. Each of the electronic brake controllers has an independent power source. The system also includes an electronic park brake controller and parking brake. A vehicle control unit is in communication with each of the electronic brake controllers for coordinating control of the braking system. One or more communications network cables, which may be wired or wireless, connect the electronic brake controllers. An electrical connector allows for swapping the second axle, which requires no fluidic connections.

A clamping device includes a cylinder, a base body, a movable plate, and holding pins. The movable plate is attached to the base body substantially parallel thereto via two pairs of link arms. The movable plate moves along the operating direction of the cylinder. The movable plate can abut against a width-direction side surface of a workpiece. The holding pins are attached to the movable plate. The holding pins abut against an upper portion of the workpiece.

A system for assembling vehicle body components includes an index table rotatably installed on a mounting frame, assembly units disposed on an upper surface of the index table in four directions by rotary plates, and each including a replacement jig and a fixing jig, the replacement jig and the fixing jig being configured to allow the first and second components to be loaded thereon, and the assembly units being configured to be rotated by a predetermined angle by the index table so that the first and second components are joined together by welding while passing through a plurality of assembly sections, a replacement jig palette positioned in a first assembly section, a component palette positioned in a second assembly section, a plurality of clamping units positioned in a third assembly section, and welders positioned in the third assembly section and the fourth assembly section.