Mounting Blocks In Vehicle Frame And Method Of Installation Therein

Abstract

Mounting blocks, embodying preformed means to which hold down fasteners are to be secured, are located inside a vehicle frame by means of a positioning fixture, so as to conform to the preformed pattern of bolt openings in a door to fit across the frame. In one preferred example, the blocks are metal cylinders embodying eccentric tapped bolt openings. After the positions of the openings are fixed on locator pins on the positioning fixture, the individual mounting blocks are eccentrically swung thereabout outwardly to a snug position against the inside frame walls, and then are permanently welded thereto to receive the door.

Parent Case Text

This is a division of application Ser. No. 87,038, filed Nov. 5, 1970 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,203.

Description

This invention relates to mounting blocks installed in a vehicle frame, and to the method of installation therein.

More particularly, it relates to door mounting blocks so referenced to one another on the inside of a vehicle frame that the mounting blocks present preformed means to which hold down fasteners are to be secured and the mounting blocks conform to the preformed pattern of bolt openings in a door which is to be mounted against, and fastened to, the mountings when fitted across the frame. While doors have been particularly mentioned, the invention has equal application to other large components mountable in frames including, but not limited to, vehicular frames.

Perhaps the most direct, and easiest to follow of the ways to prepare access doors, ventilator grilles, large components of other character and panels to be bolted into place, is the technique of drilling each hole through the door when in place, and part-way into a door mount on the frame. That way insures that each door hole and its corresponding mounting hole will "line up" whereupon the door is temporarily removed.

Then, following a separate operation to enlarge the door holes and a separate operation to tap the mounting holes, the door can be put back into place and detachably secured to the frame by hold down bolts.

There are several disadvantages, such as the expensiveness and extensiveness of the multiple drill fixtures required, and the several separate operations involving handling of the frame or door or both several times. Other ways, such as preforming the holes and setting the mounts in place in a pattern properly referencing them to one another, have been proposed. In cases they have been put into use, but then found to be plagued with other disadvantages encountered in practical manufacture.

The foregoing disadvantages are materially reduced if not substantially eliminated by my invention, as will now be explained in detail.

Various features, objects, and advantages will either be specifically pointed out or become apparent when, for a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show certain preferred embodiments thereof and in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are in elevation and in plan respectively, as viewed from the right side and from the top of a unitary tractor frame which is shown embodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is in sectional elevation, as viewed from the front along the section line III -- III in FIG. 2 and showing a mount detail;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are in elevation and in top plan, showing the detail of FIGS. 3 to larger scale and in cross section for greater clarity;

FIG. 6 is isometric, as viewed rearwardly inside the frame and with the mount positioning fixture being introduced from above;

FIGS. 7 and 8 correspond to elevational FIG. 4, but show a mount modification respectively upon reaching position and upon final assembly;

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5, schematically illustrating the principle of adjustment of the preceding embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 correspond to elevational FIG. 4, but show a further modification respectively upon reaching position, upon being affixed in position, and upon final assembly;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of another modification; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic front, elevational showing illustrating the principle of adjustment of the modification of FIG. 11.

Particularly as shown in the drawings, the unitary frame hereof, constructed with double wall sides, is fabricated by welding for use specifically as a chassis in crawler tractors.

CHASSIS FRAME -- FIGS. 1 and 2

More particularly, in integrated chassis frame for the use just described comprises: sturdy cross-members 22, 24, and 26 adjacent the extreme front and rear of the frame; a drive box 28 occupying the rearwardmost position respectively to a front frame portion 29 and a rear frame portion 31; a set of oppositely positioned elephant ears 30 forming part of the final drive and carried at the respective sides of the drive box 28; continuous sides 38 of deep beam construction extending the full length of the chassis frame from front to rear, the sides being rigid with the adjacent cross members, and each arranged with double walls and arranged generally in a fore and aft extending vertical plane; division means dividing the front frame portion 29, drive box 28, and rear frame portion 31 into corresponding engine 32, drive 34, and transmission 36 compartments for receiving respectively the tractor engine, the steering drive, and the transmission component between the continuous sides; and top and bottom strips extending substantially the full length of each continuous side, the top strips 42 spacing apart and being joined to the tops of the vertical double walls of the sides and the bottom strips 44 spacing apart and being joined to the bottoms of the vertical double walls; the continuous sides inclding upright double wall prolongations 40 at the front of the continuous sides, generally coplanar to and integral with and extending upwardly from, lower double side walls of the respective sides, so as to cooperate with the adjacent front cross members to form a radiator guard door for the engine compartment.

The engine and transmission compartments 32 and 36 have an interposed inverted channel 47 at the bottom forming a support tunnel 48 for a track frame equalizer bar, now shown. The sides of the channel 47 have inserts 49 therein to carry the mid-portion pivot of the mentioned equalizer bar.

Short top strip terminals 52 to the top strips 42 are secured between and welded to the tops of the upright double wall prolongations 40 of the frame sides. In each such side, a vertical angle member 53 is welded to the front vertical edge of an outer sheet 39a in the side 38 and to a region of an inner sheet 39 somewhat back of its front edge for securing the sheets to one another in spaced apart relation. A vertical curved corner piece 54 is welded to the front edge of the outer sheet 39a at its juncture with the angle piece 53 and also to the front edge of the inner sheet 39. The lower front cross member 24 is a casting whereof ends 59 on the casting engage the sides 38 in recesses 61 formed in the side sheets 39 and 39a at the bottom regions of their front ends, and are secured to the sides 38 be welding. Radiator support tube openings 66 are vertically spaced apart in the sides 38 and are used for mounting therebetween a radiator, not shown, in a plane athwart the side prolongations 40.

Track frame guides 68 are provided which are disposed one at each side of the rear frame portion, and each of which includes a track guide gusset plate 70 for reenforcement and a track frame guide block 72. The bottom strips generally indicated at 44 for each of the sides 38 are composed of end to end connected front and rear bottom front 47a and bottom rear 74b rails. The rail bottoms form the sides of a frame for a crankcase guard door 76 at the bottom of the front frame porton 29 and a transmission guard door 78 for the rear frame portion 31, respectively.

Oppositely positioned pivot shaft openings 81 in the drive box 28 are defined by laterally protruding integral wall extensions 83 of the latter. The side 38 of the box has ribs including a rib 89 which are formed integral therewith and which extend between the integral wall extension 83 and the elephant ear 30.

Horizontal and inclined rows of door mounting blocks or mounts 84 are provided comprising the aligned blocks 84a on each side of the rear frame portion for the transmission guard door 78 and the aligned blocks 84b on each side of the front frame portion for the crankcase guard door 76. Though not necessarily so, the angle in inclined rows is usually the same thoughout the length of the row. It will be seen for example that motor mounts herein and the front fame portion mounts 84b are in rows with a constant angle, and with the individual motor mounts in a row eing vertical whereas individual front frame portion mounts 84b are inclined at an acute vertical angle normal to the angle of the overall row.

My invention provides several embodiments of mount, each generally being in a set of two or more mounts.

ECCENTRIC MOUNTING HOLE -- FIGS. 3, 4, and 5

Each mounting block 84 in the row in which it is located is secured by welding 86 to the confronting inner frame wall presented by the inner sheet 39, and has a radius r insuring that the geometric center of the cylindrical shape thereof will always be a distance r away from the inner wall. However, a tapped hole 88 forming a bolt opening therein has an eccentricity e relative to the geometric center, enabling the hole location to be determined by the rotational angularity of a reference line 90 between the centers. A hold down bolt 92 threaded into the tapped mounting hole 88 passes through a registering opening 94 in a spanning bar 96 on the door. The spanning bar is inwardly offset from the plane of and welded at its opposite ends to the flange like outer margin of the of the associated guard door 78. A large tool opening 98 enables the hold down bolt head to be recessed and to be spanned by the spanning bar immediately thereabove. The bolt head clamps a washer 100 directly to the spanning bar 96 and is spaced apart at all points from the sides of the recessed opening 98 in the door.

The hole location has a set position in a hole pattern, not shown, and the cylindrically shaped mounting block puts sufficient "float" into the hole location to reference it to the pattern, irrespective of maunfacturing variations and irrespective of where the inner frame wall is located vertically or sidewise. A two-way float results, with the block having the periphery brought into contact with the supporting inner wall at the appropriate level thereon, and with the block having the appropriate block rotational angle, all prior to permanent securement of the block periphery to the supporting wall.

FLOAT -- FIG. 6

In installation of a mounting block 84 in proper position in a pattern secured to the chassis frame side 38, the introduction is made on a positioning fixture 102 which is properly referenced to some vertical axis 104 and to some longitudinal axis 106 in the chassis frame, for example, the frame principal longitudinal axis. While borne on the positioning fixture, in accordance with the desired bolt pattern spacing and further with the tapped block openings on upstanding locator pins 108, the blocks have adjustment movement imparted thereto, as shown by arrows for their broken line positions along the upright fixed axes of the locator pins and about such axes, into contact with the adjacent portion of the supporting wall. Although the fixed locator pins 108 can be mounted on differing height spacers to impart inclination to the row of mounting blocks as installed, for simplification they are illustrated in FIG. 6 at a common level to provide a horizontal row of mounts in the chassis frame.

Hold down bolts are not essential, because studs can be used to advantage in cooperation with nuts to hold a guard door in place. Exemplary of a modified means for accomplishing such is the following embodiment of the invention.

MODIFIED STUD EMBODIMENT -- FIGS. 7 and 8

Reference numerals are used corresponding to the preceding embodiment, but differentiated in the present emebodiment by the prefix numerals 1 or 2 in the hundreds' place. The numerals and parts are:

Chassis frame side 138 Mounting block of radius r 184 Threaded stud, eccentricity Hold down nut 192 e 188 Registering opening 194 Spanning bar 196 Tool opening 198 Washer 200 Positioning fixture 202 Locator hole 208 Guard door 178

Again, the mount and the method of installation achieve practical importance because of the accommodation afforded by the generally cylindrical periphery of the block 184 and the depending threaded stud 188 generally axially protruding from an eccentric location at the end of the block. The successive steps of installation are: introduction into the frame, of the blocks while borne at the desired height on the positioning fixture 202, and while borne thereby with the desired stud spacing, and with the studs 188 in the locator holes 208 coaxial with the studs on generally upright fixed axes; rotation of the blocks 184, while the height is maintained, on fixed axes aforesaid each into engagement with an adjacent portion of the confronting inner wall of the frame side 138; and securement of each block 184 to the adjacent portion of the inner frame wall so that the resulting threaded stud locations are fixed in conformity with the mounting means pattern desired.

The positioning fixture is then replaced by the guard door 178 (FIG. 8), the spanning bar 196 carried thereby engaging the mounting block and the edge of the guard door 188 engaging the rail portion 144 of the side 138. The hold down nut 192 is then brought upwardly from the broken line position and threaded onto the stud 188 of each block to clamp the bar 196 and interposed washer 200 thereagainst. The tool opening or recess 198 has a lateral dimension affording wrench clearance and has a thickness dimension affording partial recessing of the nut 192.

ADJUSTMENT RANGE -- FIG. 9

Viewed the other way, the cylindrical mount 284 can be considered the part which is eccentric, eccentric to the located hold dowm means 288, which latter will be located according to the pattern on either a pin or a locator hole depending upon whether it is a tapped mount hole or a threaded mount stud as the case may be. With the variation afforded by radius r and eccentricity e, maximum offset available will be r + e for the hold down means 288 when the mount takes the broken line position 284b tangentially to the side while the side is in its distal position as shown by the solid lines 238. The minimum offset available by the mount will be r - e when the mount is rotated into the solid line position shown by the solid lines 284, tangential to the side while the side is in its proximal position as shown by the broken lines 238b. Intermediate offsets from the side, such as the mid-way offset r, will be available for the hold dowm means 288, when the mount is swung into broken line positions such as shown by the broken lines 284a tangentially to the side in its mid-way position as shown by the broken mid-way lines 238a.

The contemporaneous height adjustment available is believed obvious and is not illustrated.

Means can be provided for greater latitude of adjustment in location, eliminating the need for external cylindricalness which, if resorted to in some cases, can necessitate a mounting block of unduly large size.

Exemplary of a modified mount with a hole for accomplishing such is a modified embodiment of the invention next following.

MODIFIED MOUNT WITH HOLE -- FIGS. 10 and 11

A mounting block 384 which can be four-sided, e.g., square as viewed in cross section, has a drilled and tapped bolt opening 388 extending axially therethrough at any convenient point such as through the center of the block. An upstanding locator pin 408 in the opening 388 sets the block location on their upright coaxis, relative the supporting positioning fixture 402. The fixture 402 holds the block in a sufficiently offset position from the inner frame wall that the hole can be referenced to a hole pattern, allowing the chassis frame side 338 to be made with reasonable manufacturing tolerances.

To span the offset, a two-plate, inwardly opening metal stall 390 is installed one plate at a time between the inner supporting wall and the front or back surface of the mounting block 384. The first plate can be temporarily located by tack welding, but the ultimate installation will be by bead welding to the parts bridged between, e.g., horizontal and vertical weld beads 404 and 406 made to the block 384. The second plate of the stall oppositely positioned to the first plate can be added by immediate installation or delayed installation.

Because the inactive end of the block 384 does not extend as far as the stall 390 extends at that end, the block and the opening 388 therein are unencumbered and open at only one end, which end presents the accessible mounting face. It thus depends upon whether the component to be mounted is intended to be bedded in from the top of the frame or bolted thereunder, as to whether the stall and block are installed while the chassis frame side 338 is inverted or not from normal position. There are sundry possibilities and variations, as suggested by a few specific embodiments to follow.

DOOR MOUNT EMBODIMENT -- FIG. 12

In a mount for use with a suspended component and specfically with a door bolted therebeneath, the parts and numerals are: Side 338 Mounting block 384a Trapped hole 388 Hold down bolt 392 Registering opening 394 Spanning bar 396 Tool opening 398 Washer 400 Guard door 378 Metal stall 390

Complete recessing of the head of the bolt 392 is shown. Recessing is accomplished by extending the tool opening 398 upwardly to relieve the bottom central part of the spanning bar 396. The bar 396 is flat against the top of the guard door 378 and is welded at its opposite ends to the guard door.

MOTOR MOUNT EMBODIMENTS -- FIGS. 1 and 2

In the embodiment of a front engine mounting block 384b, the tapped hole 388 therein is equidistant from the edges of the block, which is a square as viewed in cross section. The block forms part of an engine bed and so the mounting face and accessible end of the tapped hole are at the upper end of the block. The engine component and hold down bolt and washer are omitted for simplification, but the essentials of the environment are shown including the front and rear frame portions 29 and 31.

A rear enging mounting block 384c extends rectangularly in the athwart direction shown, and a tapped hole 388 therein is offset in the medial direction so as to be nearer to the cantilevered inner edge than to the outer edge of the block. Two of the rear blocks form the balance of the bed for the engine component of the vehicle, not shown. All blocks are supported by the welded-in metal stalls of the type described.

EMBODIMENT WITH STUD -- FIG. 13

In the illustrated mounting block modification 384d, a stud 388d serving as the generally axially projecting mounting means will be depending or be upstanding from the block as desired, and the stall 390 will be installed with the frame 338 inverted or not as appropriate.

Then for mounting thereon, an appropriate component will be used, provided with mounting holes and being bedded down upon or suspended downwardly from the stud depending upon its direction.

The hold down nut and washer for securing the component are omitted for simplification.

ADJUSTMENT, MODIFIED EMBODIMENTS -- FIG. 14

In this more generalized embodiment of block as shown in elevation at 384e the purpose is to have the studs, if the block is so arranged therewith, to project at each of the opposite upper and lower ends beyond the corresponding end of the metal stall 390. Or, if the mounting means as actually shown does not comprise studs, the mounting means can, instead, comprise a tapped axial hole 388e necessitating that the entire block 384e extend at each end axially beyond the corresponding end of the stall 390.

Viewed in front elevation in terms of the overall row of mounting blocks on the chassis frame side 338 the side 338 will have an average distance d to the row from amont all blocks therein. Each block for sake of uniformity will have the same measurement b between the mounting means center line C.L. (i.e., a hole center in a tapped opening 388e as illustrated) and the edge of the block near the side 338.

Viewed in terms of the offset capability of each individual block 384e, the cantilever-stall plate length of each metal stall 390 enables the C.L. of the block 384e to have the offset (b + d) + d from the inner supporting wall when the side has the distal solid line position as shown by the solid lines 338. The minimum offset available will be (b + d) - d when the mount is secured by the stall 390 with the side in its proximal broken line position as shown by the broken lines 338p. Intermediate offset between the maximum and minimum noted will be, say for the mid-position, b + d when the mount is secured by the stall 390 with the side in the broken line mid-position as shown by the broken lines 338m.

The controlling aspect, of course, will be locating the mount positioning fixture 402 so that the locator means (e.g., locator pins 408 as actually illustrated) properly reference each mounting means in conformity with the mounting pattern desired.

From the foregoing it can be appreciated that final assembly of two relatively heavy and bulky components can be made with minimum of handling time for fit up of the two together. On the one hand, preformed mounts can be undergoing accurate location in one component with mounting means thereon precisely conforming to a desired fastener pattern. On the other hand, the other component of the assembly can be undergoing preforming with fastener openings precisely in conformity with the same pattern. Full registry thus materialzes and a foolproof fit up is assured. Final instllation involves merely the application of the hold down fasteners to proper torque, by bolt driver or by nut driver depending upon whether the fasteners are of the threaded bolt type or stud and nut type.

Claims

1. A mounting block assembly for a vehicle frame, comprising:

a frame with inner walls defining a mouth;

a door received by the frame for being bolted thereto, and sized to cover the mouth of the inner frame walls;

door mounting blocks installed generally tangentially on the inner walls in juxtaposition behind the door, and being cylindrical with r radius; and

bolt openings presented by the blocks to receive door bolts, each having e eccentricity to the cylinder, and having the opening center with an offset of about r from the adjacent inner wall yet, during installation, affording selective offsets of the opening center approximately within the

2. The invention of claim 1, further comprising bolt receiving openings in the door preformed in conformity with the same mounting hole pattern to afford registry between the respective bolt openings in the door and in the blocks therebehind; and

bolts received in the registering openings and effecting the door bolting

3. A mounting block assembly for a vehicle frame, comprising:

a frame with inner walls defining a mouth;

a closure member received by the frame for being fastened thereto, and sized to cover the mouth of the inner frame walls;

closure-member mounting blocks installed generally tangentially on the inner walls in juxtaposition behind the closure member, and being cylinders with r radius and with ends for carrying studs; and

studs carried by the ends of the cylinders accommodative of closure-member stud openings, each having e eccentricity to the cylinder, and having the stud center with an offset of about r from the adjacent inner wall yet, during installation, affording selective offsets of the stud center approximately within the range r .+-. e to accommodate actual practice.

4. The invention of claim 3, further comprising:

stud receiving openings in the closure member prefermed in conformity with the stud pattern to afford registry between the respective stud openings in the closure member and studs on the blocks therebehind;

hold down nuts received on the studs and effecting the door fastening purpose described; and

tool recess means in the door so accommodating the studs that the nuts

5. The invention of claim 3, wherein said closure member is a member of the class comprising access doors, ventilator grilles, large component closure

6. A mounting block assembly for a vehicle frame, comprising:

a frame with inner walls defining a mouth;

a door received by the frame for being bolted thereto, and sized to cover the mouth of the inner frame walls;

block-receiving metal stalls to open inwardly from the inner walls at points consistent with a pattern of mounting holes to be referenced thereto;

door mounting blocks having tapped bolt openings to provide the door mounting holes when the stalls and tall occupying blocks are installed; and

means for installing the stalls, and for installing the door mounting blocks securely to the wall stalls in juxtaposition behind the door, with the opening center of each at a point which, during installation, is selectively offset from the adjacent inner wall by an amount in the range of about (b + d) .+-. d, where d is the average distanced, among the blocks in all installations, between the adjacent portion of the inner wall and the near edge of each block thereto and b is the block

7. The invention of claim 6, further comprising:

bolt receiving openings in the door preformed in conformity with the same mounting hole pattern, affording registry betwen the respective bolt openings in the door and in the blocks therebehind; and

bolts received in the registering openings effecting the door bolting as

8. The invention of claim 7, further comprising:

tool recess means in the door so accomodating the bolts that the heads of

9. A mounting block assembly for a vehicle frame, comprising:

a frame with inner walls defining a mouth;

a component received by the frame, for being fastened thereto within the inner frame walls;

block-receiving metal stalls to open inwardly from the inner walls at points consistent with a pattern of mounting means to be referenced thereto;

mounting blocks having threaded studs at the end and generally axially protruding to provide the mounting means when the stalls and stall-occupying blocks are installed; and

means for mounting the stalls, and for installing the door-mounting blocks securely to the wall stalls in juxtaposition behind the component, with the protruding stud of each at a point which, during installation, is selectively offset from the adjacent inner wall by an amount in the range of about (b + d) .+-. d, where d is the average distance, among the blocks in all assemblies, between the adjacent portion of the inner wall and the near edge at the end of each block thereto and b is the block measurement

10. The invention of claim 9, further comprising:

stud receiving openings in the component preformed in conformity with the same mounting means pattern, affording registry between the respective stud openings in the component and studs on the blocks therebehind;

hold down nuts received on the studs and effecting the component fastening purpose described; and

tool recess means in the component so accommodating the studs that the nuts thereon are recessed in the component.