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P a t k i e t a l . ( 4 3 ) P u b . D a t e : Aug. 1 1 , 2011( 5 4 ) VEHICLE CHASSIS FRAME PROVIDING P u b l i c a t i o n C l a s s i ? c a t i o n

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A e h i c l e c h a s s i s frame i n c l u d e s a l e f t c h a s s i s frame a i l ; ar i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l ; a p l u r a l i t y o f c r o s s members, and a

( 7 3 ) A s s i g n e e ; I n t e r n a t i o n a l Truck n t e l l e c t u a l m i n i c r o s s member. The r o s s members o n n e c t t h e l e f t c h a sp r o p e r t y Company, LLC s i s f r a m e r a i l t o t h e l e f t c h a s s i s f r a m e a i l . The r s t p r o p e l l e rW a r r e n v i l l e IL Us) s h a f t i s o p e r a t i v e l y con?gured o c o n n e c t a t r a n s m i s s i o n t o a

j o i n t . The r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t s s u p p o r t e d by c e n t e r b e a r i n gb r a c k e t a n d s u p p o r t . T h e j o i n t i s o p e r a t i v e l y c o n ? g u r e d t oc o n n e c t a s e c o n d p r o p e l l e r s h a f t t o t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t .( 2 1 ) A p p l ' N05 1 2 / 7 0 4 , 1 9 7 The s e c o n d p r o p e l l e r s h a f t d r i v e s t h e r e a r a x l e o f t h e V e h i c l e .A i n i - c r o s s member ay e c o u p l e d t h e l e f t a n d i g h t c h a ss i s f r a m e r a i l s p r o x i m a t e t h e j o i n t a n d s u p p o r t s t h e c e n t e r( 2 2 ) F i l e d : F e b . 1 1 , 2 0 1 0 h e a r i n g b r a c k e t a n d s u p p o r t f o r t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t .

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VEHICLE CHASSIS FRAME PROVIDINGDRIVE LINE OPTIMIZATION

BACKGROUND[ 0 0 0 1 ] The r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e r e l a t e s g e n e r a l l y t o a c h a s s i sframe f o r a v e h i c l e Which s u p p o r t s one o r m o r e p r o p e l l e rs h a f t s .[ 0 0 0 2 ] R e f e r r i n g t o F I G S . 1 and , i n v e h i c l e s 1 5 0 s u c h s ,b u t n o t l i m i t e d t o s e m i - t r u c k s , a f r o n t mounted e n g i n e ( n o ts h o W n ) i s g e n e r a l l y c o u p l e d t h r o u g h a d r i v e s h a f t 1 1 4 , ad i f f e r e n t i a l g e a r ( n o t s h o W n ) a n d r e a r a x l e s ( n o t s h o W n ) t od r i v e t h e r e a r W h e e l s 160 o f t h e v e h i c l e 1 5 0 . M u l t i p l e d r i v es h a f t s 1 1 4 ' , 1 1 4 , 1 1 4 ' , a s shoWn i n F I G . 1 , a r e commonlyused o send poWer from c e n t r a l d i f f e r e n t i a l , t r a n s m i s s i o n o rt r a n s a x l e t o t h e W h e e l s 1 6 0 . I n f r o n t - e n g i n e , r e a r - d r i v ev e h i c l e s 1 5 0 , a l o n g e r d r i v e s h a f t o r m u l t i p l e d r i v e s h a f t s m a ya l s o b e r e q u i r e d t o s e n d poWer l o n g t h e l e n g t h o f a v e h i c l e .A o t c h k i s s d r i v e m a y be used Where h e H o t c h k i s s d r i v e h a stWo o r more o i n t s . A r i v e s h a f t c o n n e c t i n g t h e gearbox o ar e a r d i f f e r e n t i a l i s c a l le d a p r o p e l l e r s h a f t o r p r o p - s h a f t 114.Ap r o p - s h a f t a s s e m b l y 1 1 4 c o n s is t s o f a p r o p e l le r h a f t 1 1 4 , a n dj o i n t ( s ) 1 1 6 , 1 1 7 .[ 0 0 0 3 ] D e p e n d i n g u p o n s e v e r a l f a c t o r s i n c l u d i n g t h e d i st a n c e betWeen h e t r a n s m i s s i o n and h e d i f f e r e n t i a l g e a r andt h e a n g u l a r t o t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l g e a r a n d t h e a n g u l a r m i s a l i g nment betWeen h e o u t p u t o f t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n and h e i n p u t tot h e d i f f e r e n t i a l g e a r , t h e d r i v e s h a f t i s g e n e r a l l y i n t h e form fa s p l i t s h a f t h a v i n g a p p r o x i m a t el y t h r e e s h a f t s e c t i o n s 1 1 4 ' ,1 1 4 , 1 1 4 W i t h d j a c e n t s e c t i o n s c o u p l e d o g e t h e r t h r o u g hj o i n t s 1 1 6 , 1 1 7 a s shoWn n F I G . 1 . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e o u t p u tfrom t h e v e h i c l e t r a n s m i s s i o n may b e c o u p l e d t h r o u g h au n i v e r s a l j o i n t t o a c o u p l i n g s h a f t Which s i n t u r n c o u p l e dt h r o u g h a second u n i v e r s a l j o i n t t o a d r i v e s h a f t Which sc o u p l e d t h r o u g h a t h i r d u n i v e r s a l o i n t t o t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l g e a r .One r more f t h e o i n t s a r e p r o v i d e d i n t h e d r i v e s h a f t W i t h ,t y p i c a l l y , o n e j o i n t b e t W e e n t h e c o u p l i n g s h a f t a n d t h e d r i v es h a f t . The o i n t s p e r m i t a r i a t i o n s i n t h e s p a c i n g b e t W e e n t h et r a n s m i s s i o n and t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l g e a r d u e t o m a n u f a c t u r i n gt o l e r a n c e s a n d a l s o p e r m i t l i m i t e d c h a n g e s i n t h e s p a c i n gWhen t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l g e a r moves With t h e r e a r s u s p e n s i o ns y s t e m f o r t h e v e h i c l e . I n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e s t a b i l i t y f o r t h es y s t e m , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o s u p p o r t t h e c o u p l i n g s h a f t a d j a c e n tt h e s e c o n d o i n t . T h e r o t a t i n g s h a f t i s e n g a g e d W i t h a b e a r i n gWhich s embedded i n a r e s i l i e n t r u b b e r b u s i n g Which s i nt u r n a t t a c h e d t h r o u g h a b r a c k e t t o t h e v e h i c l e c h a s s i s f r a m e .[ 0 0 0 4 ] T h e p r o p e l l e r s h a f t l e n g t h 1 1 4 , a n d t h e number o fp r o p e l l e r s h a f t s 1 1 4 r e q u i r e d a n d t he a n g l e o f t h e p r o p e l l e rs h a f t s a r e t r a d i t i o n a l l y d e t e r m i n e d by r o s s me mbe r 118 o c at i o n s t o p r o v i d e t h e r e q u i r e d s u p p o r t t o t h e d r i v e l i n e , a n d t h ea v a i l a b i l i t y o f r o p e l l e r s h a f t s f o r t h e p a r t i c u l a r a p p l i c a t i o n .A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e p r o p e l l e r s h a f t d e s i g n ( c o n s i s t i n g o f t h enumber f p r o p e l l e r s h a f t s ) i s d e p e n d e n t on h e l o c a t i o n s o ft h e c r o s s me mbe rs 1 1 8 . Due o t h i s dependency, an n e f ? c i e n tp r o p e l l e r s h a f t d e s i g n 1 1 4 may e s u l t .[ 0 0 0 5 ] A s i n d i c a t e d and a s shoWn i n F I G . 2 , t h e c r o s smembers 1 1 8 a r e t r a d i t i o n a l l y u s e d t o s u p p o r t p r o p e l l e rs h a f t s 1 1 4 ' , 1 1 4 , 1 1 4 i n a v e h i c l e . The e h i c l e cross-memb e r 1 1 8 l o c a t i o n s a l o n g t h e f r a m e r a i l s 1 2 0 , 1 2 2 ( a s shoWn nF I G . 2 ) i s a m a j o r c o n s t r a i n t i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e number o fp r o p e l l e r s h a f t s 1 1 4 ' , 1 1 4 , 1 1 4 ' r e q u i r e d on a v e h i c l e 1 5 0 .N o r m a l l y , Where cross-members 11 8 a r e used o s u p p o r t t h ep r o p e l l e r h a f t s 1 1 4 ' , 1 1 4 , 1 1 4 ' , s u c h a d e s i g n r e q u i r e s morep r o p e l l e r s h a f t s 1 1 4 ' , 1 1 4 , 1 1 4 ' W i t h s m a l l e r l e n g t h s i na d d i t i o n t o mo re c e n t e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e t s 1 5 0 . See FIG. 1 .

A u g . 1 1 , 2 0 1 1

Given h e c o n s t r a i n t s o f t h e c r o s s - m e m b e r s 1 1 8 , i t may l s obe h a l l e n g i n g to a d j u s t t h e Wheel a s e f o r a v e h i c l e due o t h ea v a i l a b l e d r i v e l i n e c o m b i n a t i o n .

SUMMARY[ 0 0 0 6 ] A e h i c l e c h a s s i s f r a m e s p r o v i d e d a c co r d i n g t o t h ee m b o d i m e n t ( s ) d i s c l o s e d h e r e i n . The v e h i c l e c h a s s i s f r a m ei n c l u d e s a l e f t c h a s s i s frame a i l ; a r i g h t c h a s s i s frame a i l ; ap l u r a l i t y of c r o s s members, and a mini c r o s s member. Thec r o s s me mbe rs connect t h e l e f t c h a s s i s frame a i l t o t h e l e f tc h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l . The ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t i s o p e r a t i v e l ycon?gured t o connect a t r a n s m i s s i o n t o a j o i n t . The ? r s tp r o p e l l e r s h a f t i s s u p p o r t e d b y a c e n t e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e t a n ds u p p o r t . The o i n t i s o p e r a t i v e l y con?gured o c o n n e c t a s e cond p r o p e l l e r sh aft t o t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t . The s e c o n dp r o p e l l e r s h a f t d r i v e s t h e r e a r a x l e o f h e v e h i c l e .A i n i - c r o s smember may e c o u p l e d t h e l e f t a n d i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l sp r o x i m a t e t h e j o i n t a n d s u p p o r t s t h e c e n t e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e ta n d s u p p o r t f o r t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS[ 0 0 0 7 ] F e a t u r e s a n d a d v a n t a g e s o f e m b o d i m e n t s o f t h ep r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e W i l l become a p p a r e n t by e f e r e n c e t o t h ef o l l o W i n g d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n a n d d r a W i n g s , i n W h i c h l i k er e f e r e n c e n u m e r a l s c o r r e s p o n d o s i m i l a r , t h o u g h p e r h a p s n o ti d e n t i c a l , c o m p o n e n t s . F o r t h e s a k e o f b r e v i t y , r e f e r e n c en u m e r a l s o r f e a t u r e s h a v i n g a p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d f u n c t i onmay r may o t be d e s c r i b e d i n c o n n e c t i o n With o t h e r draWi n g s i n W h i c h t h e y a p p e a r .[ 0 0 0 8 ] F I G . 1 s i d e , s c h e m a t i c v i e W o f p r i o r a r t p r o p e l l e rs h a f t s t h a t a r e s u p p o r t e d by a t r a d i t i o n a l c h a s s i s frame i n at r u c k .[ 0 0 0 9 ] F I G . 2 i s a p a r t i a l , p e r s p e c t i v e vieW o f a p r i o r a r tc h a s s i s frame f o r a t r u c k .[ 0 0 1 0 ] F I G . 3 i s a s i d e , s c h e m a t i c v i e W o f p r o p e l l e r s h a f t sWherein a m i n i - c r o s s me mbe r of t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e i ss u p p o r t i n g t h e p r o p e l l e r s h a f t .[ 0 0 1 1 ] F I G . 4 i s a p a r t i a l , p e r s p e c t i v e vieW o f a c h a s s i sframe f o r t h e t r u c k o f F I G . 3 .[ 0 0 1 2 ] F I G . 5 i s a n e n l a r g e d , i s o m e t r i c vieW o f an embodiment of m i n i - c r o s s m e m b e r of h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e .[ 0 0 1 3 ] F I G . 6 i s a t o p vieW of an embodiment ofthe m i n ic r o s s m e m b e r of h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e .[ 0 0 1 4 ] F I G . 7 i s a f r o n t vieW of an embodiment o f t h em i n i - c r o s s member f t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e .[ 0 0 1 5 ] FIG. 8 i s a c r o s s s e c t i o n a l vieW ofan embodiment oft h e m i n i - c r o s s member f F I G . 5 a l o n g A-A.[ 0 0 1 6 ] F I G . 9 i s a p a r t i a l , p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W o f a p r o p e l l e rs h a f t s u p p o r t e d b y t h e m i n i - c r o s s member o f t h e p r e s e n td i s c l o s u r e .[ 0 0 1 7 ] F I G . 1 0 i s f r o n t vieW f a c e n t e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e t ands u p p o r t W i t h a p r o p e l l e r s h a f t d i s p o s e d W i t h i n t h e s u p p o r t .[ 0 0 1 8 ] F I G . 1 1 i s a How c h a r t i l l u s t r a t i n g a method ofm a n u f a c t u r i n g t h e v e h i c l e c h a s s i s f r a m e o f t h e p r e s e n t d i sc l o s u r e .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION[ 0 0 1 9 ] The p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e p r o v i d e s a v e h i c l e c h a s s i sframe 1 0 Which s u p p o r t s one o r more r o p e l l e r s h a f t ( s ) 1 4 ' ,1 4 W h i c h p r o v i d e s i m p r o v e d d e s i g n ? e x i b i l i t y W h i l e r e d u ci n g c o s t a n d W e i g h t .[ 0 0 2 0 ] I n c o n t r a s t to t h e p r i o r a r t , t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r ep r o v i d e s a v e h i c l e c h a s s i s f r a m e 1 0 Which r o v i d e s f o r d r i v e

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l i n e o p t i m i z a t i o n s u c h h a t t h e p r o p e l l e r h a f t 1 4 d e s i g n s n o td e p e n d e n t on t h e l o c a t i o n of h e c r o s s members 1 8 . R a t h e r ,t h e p r o p e l l e r s h a f t d e s i g n 1 4 may e o p t i m i z e d i n d e p e n d e n tof h e l o c a t i o n of h e c r o s s me mbe rs 18 i v e n t h a t a mini r o s smember 1 8 i s i m p l e m e n t e d t o s u p p o r t t h e p r o p e l l e r s h a f t . I nc o n t r a s t t o t h e t r a d i t i o n a l c r o s s m em b er s 18 of a v e h i c l ec h a s s i s f r a m e 1 0 , t h e m i n i c r o s s me mbe r 2 m a y be l a c e d ta n y a r e a a l o n g t h e l e n g t h o f t h e l e f t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l 2 0 andt h e r i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l 2 2 .[ 0 0 2 1 ] R e f e r r i n g noW t o F I G . 3 , an embodiment o f t h ev e h i c l e c h a s s i s 10 having mini r o s s m e m b e r 2 s shoWn ona v e h i c l e 8 0 . The r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e a l l o W s f o r p r o p e l l e r s h a f t1 4 ( d r i v e l i n e ) o p t i m i Z a t i o n W h e r e i n t h e r e q u i r e d n u m b e r o fp r o p e l l e r h a f t s 1 4 ' , 1 4 i s r e d u c e d . T h i s o p t i m i Z a t i o n may ep e r f o r m e d W i t h o u t h a v i n g t o c h a n g e t h e e x i s t i n g c h a s s i sf r a m e 1 0 s t r u c t u r e Which i n c l u d e s t h e l e f t and r i g h t f r a m er a i l s 2 0 , 22 and h e c r o s s me mbe rs 1 8 . A ini c r o s s m e m b e r1 2 , a s shoWn n F I G . 5 , m a y e implemented on t h e c h a s s i sframe 1 0 a s shoWn n FIGS. 3 and t o s u p p o r t t h e p r o p e l l e rs h a f t ( s ) 1 4 ' , 1 4 W h e r e n e c e s s a r y .[ 0 0 2 2 ] The e h i c l e c h a s s i s f r a m e 1 0 o f t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l os u r e i n c l u d e s a e f t c h a s s i s frame a i l 2 0 , a r i g h t c h a s s i s framer a i l 2 0 , a p l u r a l i t y o f c r o s s members 1 8 c o n n e c t i n g t h e l e f tc h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l 20 t o t h e r i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l 2 2 , and a? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4 ' . The ? r s t p r o p e l l e r sh aft 1 4 ' mayc o n n e c t t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n ( s c h e m a t i c a l l y shoWn a s 7 0 ) t o aj o i n t 1 6 . The ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4 ' may s u p p o r t e d b y ac e n t e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e t 5 0 a n d s u p p o r t 5 2 ( a s shoWn n F I G S .9 a n d 1 0 ) . The o i n t 1 6 , shoWn n F I G . 3 i s o p e r a t i v e l y c o n?gured t o c o n n e c t a second p r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4 t o t h e ? r s tp r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4 ' . The s e c o n d p r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4 i s o p e r at i v e l y con?gured o d r i v e a r e a r a x l e 72 o f t h e v e h i c l e 8 0 .[ 0 0 2 3 ] The m i n i - c r o s s member 1 2 may e c o u p l e d t o t h el e f t and i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l s 2 0 , 2 2 a t a n y a r e a a l o n g t h el e f t and i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l s . I t i s to b e u n d e r s t o od t h a t i ti s p r e f e r a b l e t o mount h e m i n i c r o s s me mbe r 12 r o x i m a t e t ot h e j o i n t 1 6 as shoWn i n F I G S . 3 and 4 g i v e n t h a t t h e m i n ic r o s s me mbe r may s u p p o r t t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4 ' . Them i n i - c r o s s member 1 2 may s u p p o r t t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t1 4 ' t h r o u g h t h e c e n t e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e t 5 0 and s u p p o r t 5 2 a sshoWn i n FIGS. 3 , 9 and 1 0 . A s shoWn i n F I G . 9 , a v e r t i c a lb r a c k e t 1 3 may b e d i s p o s e d b e t W e e n t h e c e n t e r b e a r i n gb r a c k e t 50 and h e mini c r o s s m e m b e r 2 Wherein h e v e r t i c a lb r a c k e t 1 3 i s m e c h a n i c a l l y f a s t e n e d to t h e m i n i c r o s s m e m b e r1 2 u s i n g t h e s i d e a p e r t u r e s 3 2 , 3 4 shoWn n F I G . 5 . I n y e t o t h e ra n o t h e r o p t i o n , t h e c e n t e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e t 5 0 may e mountedd i r e c t l y to t h e m i n i c r o s s me mbe r 1 2 u s i n g m e c h a n i c a l f a st e n e r s ( n o t s h o W n ) t h r o u g h t o p a p e r t u r e s 3 6 , 3 8 o f t h e m i n ic r o s s member 2 a s shoWn n FIG. 5 .[ 0 0 2 4 ] R e f e r r i n g noW to F I G . 5 - 8 , t h e m i n i c r o s s me mbe r12 i s shoWn i n g r e a t e r d e t a i l . The m i n i c r o s s m e m b e r 12i n c l u d e s a t o p f a c e 4 0 h a v i n g t o p a p e r t u r e s 3 6 , 3 8 . The t o pa p e r t u r e s 3 6 , 3 8 may e c e i v e m e c h a n i c a l f a s t e n e r s f o r o i n i n gt h e mini c r o s s member 2 t o another e h i c l e s t r u c t u r e memb e r , s u c h a s a c e n t e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e t 50 shoWn n FIGS. 9 and1 0 . The mini r o s s m e m b e r 2 may u r t h e r have s i d e f a c e 42d e ? n i n g s i d e a p e r t u r e s 3 2 , 3 4 . S i d e a p e r t u r e s 3 2 , 3 4 mayr e c e i v e m e c h a n i c a l f a s t e n e r s ( n o t s h o W n ) f o r j o i n i n g t h e m i n ic r o s s member 2 t o any o t h e r v e h i c l e s t r u c t u r e member.[ 0 0 2 5 ] Mini r o s s me mbe r 2 m a y l s o i n c l u d e a ? r s t l e g 24a n d a s e c o n d l e g 2 6 . The ? r s t a n d s e c o n d l e g s 2 4 , 2 6 mayi n t e g r a l t o a n d / o r d i s p o s e d t o t h e l a t e r a l s i d e s o f t h e t o p f a c e40 and s i d e f a c e 42 of h e m i n i c r o s s member. The ? r s t ands e c o n d l e g s 2 4 , 2 6 may p r o v i d e s u p p o r t f o r t h e m i n i c r o s s

A u g . 1 1 , 2 0 1 1

m e m b e r a s t h e mini c r o s s m e m b e r 12 i s af?xed t o t h e l e f tc h a s s i s f r a m e a i l 2 0 and i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e a i l 2 2 . As shoWni n F I G . 5 , t h e ? r s t a n d s e c o n d l e g s 2 4 , 2 6 may l s o e a c h d e ? n el e g a p e r t u r e s 2 8 , 3 0 Which u r t h e r r e c e i v e a m e c h a n i c a l f a st e n e r ( n o t s h o W n ) f o r a f ? x i n g t h e m i n i c r o s s member 2 to t h el e f t and r i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l s 2 0 , 2 2 . I t i s a l s o t o b eu n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e m i n i - c r o s s me mbe r m a y be a ? i x e d t o t h el e f t and i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l s 2 0 , 2 2 u s i n g a m e c h a n i c a lf a s t e n e r s a s shoWn, a Welding r o c e s s o r t h e l i k e .[ 0 0 2 6 ] As shoWn n F I G S . 3 - 9 , t h e m i n i - c r o s s member 2 i ss m a l l e r t h a n any one of h e p l u r a l i t y of r o s s members 1 8 .A c c o r d i n g l y , r a t h e r t h a n u s i n g a c r o s s me mbe r 1 8 t o s u p p o r tt h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4 ' , a m i n i c r o s s me mbe r 12 Which sl i g h t e r i n W e i g h t a n d l o W e r n c o s t i s i m p l e m e n t e d o s u p p o r tt h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4 ' F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e mini c r o s s memb e r 1 4 ' may b e p l a c e d a t a n y a r e a a l o n g t h e l e f t a n d r i g h tc h a s s i s f r a m e a i l s 2 0 , 2 2 , t h e r e b y a l l o W i n g d e s i g n e x i b i l i t y .The e h i c l e c h a s s i s f r a m e 1 0 de?ned n c l a i m 1 Wherein h em i n i - c r o s s member 2 i s c o u p l e d o t h e l e f t and i g h t c h a s s i sf r a m e r a i l s 2 0 , 2 2 v i a m e c h a n i c a l f a s t e n e r s , o r a W e l d i n gprocess o r t h e l i k e .[ 0 0 2 7 ] As shoWn i n F I G . 3 , t h e m i n i - c r o s s member 1 2 i sp r o v i d e d b e t W e e n t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n 7 0 a n d t h e j o i n t 1 6 i no r d e r t o p r o p e r l y s u p p o r t t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4 ' s o a s t oa l l o W t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4 ' t o extend a s f a r back a sp o s s i b l e t h e r e b y m i n i m i Z i n g t h e n u m b e r o f p r o p e l l e r s h a f t s14 u s e d .[ 0 0 2 8 ] R e f e r r i n g noW to F I G . 1 1 , a How c h a r t i s shoWnWhich l l u s t r a t e s a method o r m a n u f a c t u r i n g a v e h i c l e c h a ss i s f r a m e 1 0 o f t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e . The method n c l u d e st h e s t e p s o f : p r o v i d i n g a l e f t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l ( s t e p 8 8 ) ;p r o v i d i n g a r i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l ( s t e p 9 0 ) ; a f ? x i n g a p l ur a l i t y o f c r o s s members c o n n e c t i n g t h e l e f t c h a s s i s f r a m e a i lt o t h e l e f t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l ( s t e p 9 2 ) ; p r o v i d i n g a ? r s t p r op e l l e r s h a f t o p e r a t i v e l y c o n ? g u r e d t o c o n n e c t t h e t r a n s m i ss i o n t o a o i n t ( s t e p 9 4 ) , and o u p l i n g a m i n i - c r o s s member ot h e l e f t a n d i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e a i l s p r o x i m a t e t h e o i n t ( s t e p9 6 ) . A g a i n , i t i s u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e m i n i - c r o s s member 1 2s u p p o r t s t h e c e n t e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e t 5 0 and s u p p o r t 5 2 f o r t h e? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4 ' .[ 0 0 2 9 ] I t i s a l s o u n d e r s t o o d h a t t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4 'i s s u p p o r t e d by a c e n t e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e t 5 0 a n d s u p p o r t 5 2 .A g a i n , t h e o i n t 1 6 c o n n e c t s t h e s e c o n d p r o p e l l e r sh aft 1 4 t ot h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r sh aft 1 4 ' a n d t h e s e c o n d p r o p e l l e r s h a f t 1 4o p e r a t i v e l y con?gured o d r i v e t h e r e a r a x l e 72 o f t h e v e h i c l e .[ 0 0 3 0 ] W h i l e m u l t i p l e e m b o d i m e n t s h a v e b e e n d e s c r i b e di n d e t a i l , i t W i l l be a p p a r e n t to t h o s e s k i l l e d i n t h e a r t t h a t t h ed i s c l o s e d embodiments may e m o d i ? e d . T h e r e f o r e , t h e f o r eg o i n g d e s c r i p t i o n i s t o b e c o n s i d e r e d e x e m p l a r y r a t h e r t h a nl i m i t i n g .What s c l a i m e d i s :1 . A e h i c l e c h a s s i s f r a m e c o m p r i s i n g :a l e f t c h a s s i s frame a i l ;a r i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l ;a p l u r a l i t y o f c r o s s members c o n n e c t i n g t h e l e f t c h a s s i s

f r a m e r a i l t o t h e l e f t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l ;a ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t c o n n e c t i n g a t r a n s m i s s i o n t o a j o i n t ,

t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t s u p p o r t e d b y a c e n t e r b e a r i n gb r a c k e t a n d s u p p o r t , t h e j o i n t o p e r a t i v e l y c o n ? g u r e d t oc o n n e c t a s e c o n d p r o p e l l e r s h a f t t o t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e rs h a f t , t h e s e c o n d p r o p e l l e r s h a f t o p e r a t i v e l y c o n ? g u r e dt o d r i v e a r e a r a x l e of h e v e h i c l e ; and

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US 011/0192672 A 1

a m i n i - c r o s s member c o u p l e d t h e l e f t a n d r i g h t c h a s s i sf r a m e r a i l s p r o x i m a t e t h e j o i n t , t h e m i n i - c r o s s members u p p o r t i n g t h e c e n t e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e t a n d s u p p o r t f o r t h e? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t .

2 . The e h i c l e c h a s s i s f r a m e de?ned n c l a i m 1 W h e r e i n , t h em i n i - c r o s s member s o p e r a t i v e l y c o n ? g u r e d o b e c o u p l e d ta n y a r e a a l o n g t h e l e n g t h o f t h e l e f t a n d r i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m er a i l s .

3 . The e h i c l e c h a s s i s f r a m e de?ned n c l a i m 1 Wherein h em i n i - c r o s s me mbe r s s m a l l e r t h a n any one f t h e p l u r a l i t y o fcross m e m b e r s .

4 . The e h i c l e c h a s s i s f r a m e de?ned n c l a i m 1 Wherein h em i n i - c r o s s member s c o u p l e d t o t h e l e f t a n d r i g h t c h a s s i sf r a m e r a i l s v i a a p l u r a l i t y o f me c h a n i c a l f a s t e n e r s .

5 . The e h i c l e c h a s s i s f r a m e de?ned n c l a i m 1 Wherein h em i n i - c r o s s member s p r o v i d e d betWeen h e e n g i n e and e a ra x l e d i f f e r e n t i a l .

6 . A method f o r m a n u f a c t u r i n g a v e h i c l e c h a s s i s framec o m p r i s i n g t h e s t e p s o f :

p r o v i d i n g a l e f t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l ;p r o v i d i n g a r i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l ;a ? i x i n g a p l u r a l i t y o f c r o s s members c o n n e c t i n g t h e l e f t

c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l t o t h e l e f t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l ;p r o v i d i n g a ? r s t p r o p e l l e r s h a f t o p e r a t i v e l y c o n ? g u r e d t o

c o n n e c t i n g t r a n s m i s s i o n t o a j o i n t , t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e rs h a f t s u p p o r t e d by c e n t e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e t a n d s u p p o r t ,

A u g . 1 1 , 2 0 1 1

t h e j o i n t c o n n e c t i n g a s e c o n d p r o p e l l e r s h a f t t o t h e ? r s tp r o p e l l e r s h a f t , t h e s e c o n d p r o p e l l e r s h a f t o p e r a t i v e l ycon?gured o d r i v e t h e r e a r a x l e o f t h e v e h i c l e ; and

c o u p l i n g a m i n i - c r o s s me mbe r o t h e l e f t and i g h t c h a s s i sf r a m e r a i l s i n an a r e a a l o n g t h e l e f t and r i g h t c h a s s i sf r a m e r a i l s t o o p t i m i Z e t h e l e n g t h o f t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e rs h a f t a n d to o p t i m i Z e t h e d r i v e l i n e a n g l e o f t h e ? r s tp r o p e l l e r s h a f t a n d t h e s e c o n d p r o p e l l e r s h a f t , t h e m i n ic r o s s me mbe r p e r a t i v e l y con?gured o s u p p o r t t h e c e nt e r b e a r i n g b r a c k e t a n d s u p p o r t f o r t h e ? r s t p r o p e l l e rs h a f t .

7 . The method f o r m a n u f a c t u r i n g a v e h i c l e c h a s s i s framede?ned n c l a i m 6 W h e r e i n , t h e m i n i - c r o s s member s o p e r at i v e l y c o n ? g u r e d o b e c o u p l e d t a n y a r e a a l o n g t h e l e n g t h o ft h e l e f t a n d r i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l s .

8 . The method f o r m a n u f a c t u r i n g a v e h i c l e c h a s s i s framede?ned n c l a i m 6 Wherein h e m i n i - c r o s s me mbe r s s m a l l e rt h a n any one of h e p l u r a l i t y o f c r o s s members.9 . The method f o r m a n u f a c t u r i n g a v e h i c l e c h a s s i s framede?ned n c l a i m 6 W h e r e i n t h e m i n i - c r o s s member s c o u p l e dt o t h e l e f t and r i g h t c h a s s i s f r a m e r a i l s v i a a p l u r a l i t y o fm e c h a n i c a l f a s t e n e r s .

1 0 . The method o r m a n u f a c t u r i n g a v e h i c l e c h a s s i s framede?ned n c l a i m 1 W h e r e i n t h e m i n i - c r o s s member s p r o v i d e dbetWeen h e e n g i n e and t h e r e a r a x l e d i f f e r e n t i a l .

us 2011019a2672

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