CHASSIS STRUT SUPPORTS

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for a chassis for an off-road vehicle that includes a chassis strut support. The chassis is a welded-tube variety of chassis that includes a front portion and a rear portion that are joined to an intervening passenger cabin portion. The chassis strut support includes one or more front strut braces for distributing loading on a front strut crossmember by front struts to at least a dash bar comprising the passenger cabin portion. In one embodiment, first and second front strut braces are joined to locations of the front strut crossmember that are above the front struts and extend to locations of the dash bar that are joined by first and second windshield braces. The windshield braces comprise a canopy that extends over the passenger cabin portion and contributes to the structural integrity of the entire chassis.

Claims

1. A chassis strut support for a chassis of an off-road vehicle, the chassis strut support comprising: a first front strut brace for distributing loading on a front strut crossmember by a first front strut to at least a dash bar; and a second front strut brace for distributing loading on the front strut crossmember by a second front strut to at least the dash bar.

2. The chassis strut support of claim 1, wherein the first front strut brace is coupled to a location of the front strut crossmember that is above a top mount of the first front strut; and wherein the second front strut brace is coupled to a location of the front strut crossmember that is above a top mount of the second front strut.

3. The chassis strut support of claim 2, wherein the first front strut brace extends to a location of the dash bar that is joined by a first windshield brace comprising a canopy that extends over a passenger cabin portion of the chassis and contributes to the structural integrity of the chassis.

4. The chassis strut support of claim 2, wherein the second front strut brace extends to a location of the dash bar that is joined by a second windshield brace comprising a canopy that extends over a passenger cabin portion of the chassis and contributes to the structural integrity of the chassis.

5. A chassis for an off-road vehicle, the chassis comprising: a passenger cabin portion disposed between a front chassis portion and a rear chassis portion; and a first front strut brace and a second front strut brace extending from the front chassis portion to the passenger cabin portion and configured to contribute to the structural integrity of the chassis.

6. The chassis of claim 5, wherein the passenger cabin portion is configured to cooperate with the front chassis portion and the rear chassis portion to distribute loading forces during operation of the vehicle so as to resist damage to components comprising the vehicle and to protect occupants riding within the vehicle.

7. The chassis of claim 5, wherein the first front strut brace is coupled to a location of a front strut crossmember that is above a top mount of the first front strut; and wherein the second front strut brace is coupled to a location of the front strut crossmember that is above a top mount of the second front strut.

8. The chassis of claim 7, wherein the first front strut brace extends to a location of a dash bar that is joined by a first windshield brace comprising a canopy that extends over the passenger cabin portion of the chassis and contributes to the structural integrity of the chassis.

9. The chassis of claim 8, wherein the second front strut brace extends to a location of the dash bar that is joined by a second windshield brace comprising the canopy.

10. The chassis of claim 9, wherein the first windshield brace and the second windshield brace extend from the dash bar to a windshield crossmember that is reinforced by way of a center roof bar comprising the canopy.

11. The chassis of claim 10, wherein all of the first and second front struts, the first and second windshield braces, and the center roof bar comprise an overhead spine to the chassis that increases the strength of the chassis relative to conventional chassis configurations.

12. A method for a chassis strut support for a chassis of an off-road vehicle, the method comprising: configuring one or more front strut braces to distribute loading on a front strut crossmember by front struts to at least a dash bar comprising the chassis.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein configuring includes coupling a first front strut brace to a location of the front strut crossmember that is above a top mount of a first front strut and coupling a second front strut brace to a location of the front strut crossmember that is above a top mount of a second front strut.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein configuring includes extending the first front strut brace to a location of the dash bar that is joined by a first windshield brace comprising a canopy that extends over a passenger cabin portion of the chassis.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein configuring includes extending the second front strut brace to a location of the dash bar that is joint by a second windshield brace comprising the canopy.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first windshield brace and the second windshield brace extend from the dash bar to a windshield crossmember that is reinforced by way of a center roof bar comprising the canopy.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein all of the first and second front struts, the first and second windshield braces, and the center roof bar comprise an overhead spine to the chassis that increases the strength of the chassis relative to conventional chassis configurations.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The drawings refer to embodiments of the present disclosure in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an off-road vehicle that is suitable for implementation of chassis strut supports in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of vehicle chassis that includes chassis strut supports according to the present disclosure; and

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of an exemplary embodiment of vehicle chassis that includes chassis strut supports and is suitable for implementation in an off-road vehicle, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0019] While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The invention should be understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, specific numeric references such as “first tube,” may be made. However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted that the “first tube” is different than a “second tube.” Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The term “coupled” is defined as meaning connected either directly to the component or indirectly to the component through another component. Further, as used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” for any numerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that allows the part or collection of components to function for its intended purpose as described herein.

[0021] Off-road vehicles typically comprise larger wheels, wider tires, and suspension configurations that are specifically engineered for use in off-road applications. As a consequence of such suspension configurations, as well as the rough terrain typically traversed, driver and passenger safety is a crucial concern. Given that off-road vehicles routinely travel over very rough terrain, such as mountainous regions, and are prone to tipping over, there is a desire to improve the mechanical strength, safety, convenience, and comfort of off-road vehicles, while at the same improving the performance of such vehicles. Embodiments disclosed herein provide an apparatus and methods for an off-road vehicle chassis comprising chassis strut supports configured to improve the strength of the chassis.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows an off-road vehicle 100 that is particularly suitable for implementation of chassis strut supports in accordance with the present disclosure. As disclosed hereinabove, the off-road vehicle 100 generally is of a Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) variety that seats two occupants, includes a roll-over protection system 104, and may have a cab enclosure 108. Rear wheels 112 of the off-road vehicle 100 may be operably coupled with a chassis 116 by way of a trailing arm suspension system 118. Front wheels 120 may be operably coupled with the chassis 116 by way of a front suspension system 122 and a spindle assembly. It should be understood, however, that the chassis strut supports disclosed herein is not to be limited to the specific off-road vehicle 100 shown in FIG. 1, but rather the chassis strut supports may be incorporated into a wide variety of vehicles, other than the off-road vehicle 100 of FIG. 1, without limitation.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of vehicle chassis 124 that includes chassis strut supports and is suitable for implementation in the off-road vehicle 100 of FIG. 1. The chassis 124 generally is a welded-tube variety of chassis that includes a front portion 128 and a rear portion 132 that are joined to an intervening passenger cabin portion 136. A front canopy 140 and a rear canopy 144 are configured to impart structural integrity to the chassis 124 and to provide overhead protection to occupants of the off-road vehicle 100, as described herein.

[0024] The front portion 128 generally is configured to support various components comprising the off-road vehicle 100, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a front suspension 122, a steering gear, a front differential, and the like. The front portion 128 may be defined by a front hoop 148 at a top of the front portion 128 and a front skid plate 152 at a bottom of the front portion 128. Frontward stays 156 attach the front hoop 148 to the front skid plate 152. As will be appreciated, the frontward stays 156 operate similarly to a front bulkhead of the chassis 124. Opposite of the frontward stays 156, the front hoop 148 is joined to opposite ends of a dash bar 160 and hinge pillars 164 comprising the passenger cabin portion 136. Further, a rear of the front skid plate 152 is fastened to a floor hoop 168 comprising the passenger cabin portion 136.

[0025] With continuing reference to FIG. 2, a front strut crossmember 172 is attached at opposite ends between the driver-side and passenger-side of the front hoop 148. The front strut crossmember 172 provides a means for coupling front struts 176 to the chassis 124, see for example FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, front strut braces 180 are disposed between the front strut crossmember 172 and the dash bar 160. The front strut braces 180 are configured to reinforce the front strut crossmember 172, such that loading on the front strut crossmember 172 by the front struts 176 is distributed to the dash bar 160. As such, forces on the front strut crossmember 172 by the front struts 176, during operation of the vehicle 100, are shared by the dash bar 160.

[0026] With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the floor hoop 168 generally defines a floor of the passenger cabin portion 136. Longitudinal floor bars 184 and crossmembers 188 coupled with the floor hoop 168 impart structural strength to the passenger cabin portion 136 and facilitate coupling various components to the floor of the passenger cabin portion 136. The hinge pillars 164 join the front portion 128 with the floor hoop 168, and thus define a front of the passenger cabin portion 136. Rear pillars 192 are coupled with a rear of the passenger cabin portion 136 and join the passenger cabin portion 136 with the rear portion 132 of the chassis 124. A rear side brace 196 is disposed between each rear pillar 192 and the floor hoop 168. Similarly, a front side brace 200 is disposed between the floor hoop 168 and each hinge pillar 164. It is contemplated that the side braces 196, 200 generally comprise side X-bars that impart structural integrity to the chassis 124 and thus resist bowing of the passenger cabin portion 136 due to loading on the front and rear portions 128, 132 during operation of the vehicle 100.

[0027] The rear portion 132 generally is configured to support a rear suspension 118 of the off-road vehicle, such as rear trailing arms, as well as support various drivetrain components, shown in FIG. 1, such as a transaxle, a rear differential, an engine, and the like. A rear hoop 204 is joined at opposite ends to rear pillars 192 and defines an upper extent of the rear portion 132. Below the rear hoop 204 are lower rear stays 208 that are coupled with the rear pillars 192 by way of a seat crossmember 212. Braces 216 couple the lower rear stays 208 to the rear hoop 204. The rear hoop 204, the lower rear stays 208 and the braces 216 comprise a structure suitable for mounting drivetrain components, such as a transaxle, a rear differential, an engine, and the like. A rear skid plate 220 is disposed at a bottom of the rear portion 132 and coupled between the passenger cabin portion 136 and a rear-most portion of the rear hoop 132. The rear skid plate 220 serves to provide protection to an underside of the drivetrain components during operation of the vehicle 100. As such, the rear hoop 204, the lower rear stays 208 and the rear skid plate 220 generally define an engine bay 224 of the vehicle 100.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, a rear strut crossmember 228 is disposed between the rear pillars 192 and joined with the ends of the rear hoop 204. The rear strut crossmember 228 is configured to provide a means for coupling rear struts 232 to the chassis 124, as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, vertical braces 236 are disposed between the rear strut crossmember 228 and the seat crossmember 212. The vertical braces 236 are configured to reinforce the rear strut crossmember 228, such that loading on the rear strut crossmember 228 by the rear struts 232 is distributed to the seat crossmember 212. As such, forces on the rear strut crossmember 228 by the rear struts 232, during operation of the vehicle 100, are shared by the seat crossmember 212. Further, lower braces 240 disposed between the seat crossmember 212 and the floor hoop 168 cause the passenger cabin portion 136 to contribute to distributing loading forces throughout the chassis 124.

[0029] As will be appreciated, the passenger cabin portion 136, as well as the front portion 128 and the rear portion 132, are configured to distribute loading forces during operation of the vehicle 100 so as to resist damage to components comprising the vehicle and to protect occupants riding within the vehicle 100. To this end, the canopy 104 is configured to contribute to the structural integrity of the chassis 124. The canopy 104 comprises a front canopy 140 and rear canopy 144 that are configured to be coupled with the chassis 124. In particular, the front canopy 140 is configured to be coupled with the front portion 128, and the rear canopy 144 is configured to be coupled with the rear portion 132.

[0030] Moreover, the front canopy 140 is configured to be coupled with the rear canopy 144. The front and rear canopies 140, 144 are respectively fastened to the front and rear portions 128, 132 by way of multiple fasteners 244. In general, each fastener 244 comprises a tube-shaped member having a diameter that is substantially similar to the diameter of the frame portions to be coupled together.

[0031] It should be recognized that the front canopy 140 and the rear canopy 144 provide an overhead assembly that contributes to the overall integrity of the entire chassis 124. As such, the front canopy 140 and the rear canopy 144 provide an overhead spine to the chassis 124 that greatly increases the strength of the chassis 124 and thus the safety of occupants of the vehicle 100 relative to conventional chassis configurations. The front and rear canopies 140, 144 are discussed in greater detail in the following paragraphs.

[0032] The front canopy 140 includes an A-pillar 248 that is coupled with each hinge pillar 164 by way of a suitably sized fastener 244. The A-pillars 248 extend upward to a windshield crossmember 252. As such, the A-pillars 248 and the windshield crossmember 252 generally define a windshield area of the vehicle 100. Each A-pillar 248 joins with a roof bar 256 that extends rearward to the rear canopy 144. In some embodiments, the A-pillar 248 and the roof bar 256 comprise separate tube-pieces that are fastened or joined together, such as by welding. In some embodiments, however, the A-pillar 248 and the roof bar 256 comprise a single tube-piece that is suitably bent or manipulated to form the A-pillar 248 and the roof bar 256 as shown in FIG. 2. The roof bars 256 are each fastened to the rear canopy 144 by way of a suitably sized fastener 244.

[0033] With continuing reference to the front canopy 140 of FIG. 2, a center roof bar 260 is disposed substantially midway between the roof bars 256 and extends from the windshield crossmember 252 rearward to a roof crossmember 264 that comprises the rear canopy 144. Forward of the center roof bar 260, windshield braces 268 extend toward the dash bar 160. Each windshield brace 268 is joined with the dash bar 160 by way of a suitably sized fastener 244. Further, the windshield braces 268 are joined to locations of the dash bar 160 that coincide with the front strut braces 180. It is contemplated that loading forces due to the front struts 176, shown in FIG. 1, are distributed along the front strut braces 180, the windshield braces 268, and the center roof bar 260 to the rear canopy 144. It should be understood, therefore, that the front strut braces 180, the windshield braces 268, the center roof bar 260 and the rear canopy 144 comprise an overhead spine that serves to reinforce the structural integrity of the chassis 124.

[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of an exemplary embodiment of vehicle chassis 124 that includes chassis strut supports and is suitable for implementation in an off-road vehicle, in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the chassis 124 includes front strut braces 180 and windshield braces 268 that are joined to a dash bar 160 comprising the chassis 124. The front strut braces 180 generally extend from a front chassis portion 128 to a passenger cabin portion 136 comprising the chassis 124. The front strut braces 180 are configured to cooperate with the passenger cabin portion 136 to distribute loading forces during operation of the off-road vehicle so as to resist damage to components comprising the vehicle and to protect occupants riding within the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 3, one end of each front strut brace 180 is coupled to a location of a front strut crossmember 172 that is above a top mount 178 of a front strut 176 (see FIG. 1). An opposite end of each front strut brace 180 is coupled to a location of the dash bar 160 that is joined by the windshield brace 268 comprising a canopy 104. As described herein, the canopy 104 extends over the passenger cabin portion 136 and is configured to contribute to the structural integrity of the chassis 124. As shown in FIG. 3, the windshield braces 268 extend from the dash bar 160 to a windshield crossmember 252 that is reinforced by way of a center roof bar 260 comprising the canopy 104. It should be understood, therefore, that all of the front strut crossmember 172, the front strut braces 180, the dash bar 160, the windshield braces 268, the windshield crossmember 252, and the center roof bar 260 operate to provide a chassis that exhibits relatively greater structural integrity than conventional chassis configurations.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the center roof bar 260 and both roof bars 256 are each fastened to the roof crossmember 264 by way of suitably sized fasteners 244. The roof crossmember 264 is disposed between B-pillars 272 that are fastened to the rear pillars 192 comprising the passenger cabin portion 136 by way of fasteners 244. A rear brace 276 extends rearward of each B-pillar 272 from the roof crossmember 264 to the rear hoop 204. A suitably sized fastener 244 couples each rear brace 276 to the rear hoop 204. As such, the roof bars 256 are reinforced by the passenger cabin portion 136 by way of the rear pillars 192 and the B-pillars 272, as well as the rear portion 132 by way of the rear braces 276. Further, the center roof bar 260 is reinforced by roof braces 280 extending from the roof crossmember 264 to the rear braces 276. To this end, the roof braces 280 are joined with the roof crossmember 264 at a location directly rearward of the center roof bar 260. Thus, forces acting on the center roof bar 260 are distributed to the rear braces 276 by way of the roof crossmember 264 and the roof braces 280.

[0036] While the invention has been described in terms of particular variations and illustrative figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the variations or figures described. In addition, where methods and steps described above indicate certain events occurring in certain order, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the ordering of certain steps may be modified and that such modifications are in accordance with the variations of the invention. Additionally, certain of the steps may be performed concurrently in a parallel process when possible, as well as performed sequentially as described above. To the extent there are variations of the invention, which are within the spirit of the disclosure or equivalent to the inventions found in the claims, it is the intent that this patent will cover those variations as well. Therefore, the present disclosure is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by scope of the appended claims.