GB510996A - Improvements in and relating to motor vehicle bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

510,996. Vehicle bodies; luggage holders. BRIGGS MANUFACTURING CO. Sept. 5, 1938, No. 25927. Convention date, Oct. 22, 1937. [Classes 103 (ii) and 108 (i)] In a motor vehicle body having a passenger compartment, a pressed metal floor pan 10 is secured to a pair of spaced longitudinal frame members 11, a structural cross frame member 20 formed integral with the floor pan being secured at its opposite ends to the lower ends of opposed substantially vertical pillars 25 forming a rigid tie therebetween. As shown, the member 20 comprising a rib-like projection adapted to function also as a footrest, is flared outwardly at its ends 21 to fit and be secured, e.g., spotwelded, to the inner faces of flared portions 25b of flanges 25a on the pillars. A reinforcing channel 22 welded in each pillar has an inwardly-projecting flange 23 which is welded to the widened top face of the member 20. The floor pan 10 is also formed to provide the rear transverse bulkhead 34 and the front transverse member 50 which connect respectively the lower ends of the rear pillars 26 and front pillars 41. The side edges of the floor pan are offset downwardly at 12 and flanged at 13 to support outer side sill members 14 having flanges 14a, 14b which are welded to the floor pan and the flange 13 providing a unitary floor structure. To the vertical portions 14c of the sills the flanges 15a of pressed sheet-steel running- boards 15 are adapted to be secured by bolts &c. 16, sound-deadening material 17 being interposed. The invention may be applied to the usual frontengine-driven vehicle, or, as shown in Fig. 1, to a rear-engine-driven vehicle of the unitary chassis and body type similar to that described in Specification 509,243. The pillars 25, 26 support the roof 27 which. is secured to roof rails 28, the rear edge of the roof being welded to a sheet 31 partly covering the engine compartment 32 and forming a partition 33 separating the passenger and engine compartments and secured at its lower edges to the transverse bulkhead 34. A rear panel 44 and hinged lid 45 close the rear part of the compartment 32. At the front of the vehicle is provided a luggage and spare tyre compartment 35 formed preferably by continuations of the side walls of the body, the dash 36, floor 10, and 'top sheet 37, the sheet 37 having a lid or bonnet 38 hinged to and supported by a frame 42.