GB513441A - Improvements in or relating to vehicle bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

513,441. Vehicle bodies. PRESSED STEEL CO., Ltd., and MATON, W. C. April 8, 1938, No. 10773. [Class 108 (i)] A vehicle body consists of two side frames A, B, Fig. 2, comprising unitary or built up open or closed section members, defining door and window openings, and transverse members 18 interconnecting the frames to form a skeleton framework which in specified regions, e.g., the centre door post and threshold regions, constitutes also the exterior panelling of the body, or in combination with exterior panelling forms additional closed, hollow-section members. To each of the frames shown in Fig. 2 may be added a forward or a rearward extension defining respectively the cowl sides or the rear quarter light. The exterior panelling shown in Fig. 5 comprises a cowl side panel 11, threshold panel 12, unitary windscreen surround and cowl top panel 13, roof panel 14, centre post panel 15, rear wheel arch quarter panel 16, and rear or tonneau panel 17. The upper member 21, Fig. 6, of each frame is of inwardly-facing channelsection having flanges 22 to which is welded a reinforcing plate 23 formed with a stiffening depression 24 which may also serve to hold a tacking &c. strip. The roof panel 14 is flanged inwardly at 25 and downwardly at 26 for connection to the base 27 of the channel, the flanges 25, 26 forming a rabbet for the upper edge of the door. The tonneau or rear panel 17, the threshold panel 12, the centre post panel 15, and the cowl top panel 13 are each secured to the adjacent channel-section frame members, which are closed by reinforcing plates, to form additional box-section members therewith, the panel 13, Fig. 8, for example, having flanges 46, 48 for securement to the front frame member 41 which is closed by a plate 43. The centre post of the body is constituted by the channel-section member 61, Fig. 10a, closed by an inner plate 63 and carrying the panel 75, the flanges 64 of which are turned back at 67 to retain rubber &c. weatherstrips 66 in the case where doors close on the centre post. Figs. 9a and 12 show respectively the connection of the cowl side panel 11 with the frame member 51, and the wheel arch panel 16 with the frame member 81, the flange 54, Fig. 9a of the panel 11 being formed to serve as a retainer for a weatherstrip 69. The invention is applicable to vehicles in which the chassis is formed separately from the body or dispensed with. Specification 437,179 is referred to.