Expandable vehicle frame

• US 4,173,264 A
• Filed: 05/25/1978
• Issued: 11/06/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Towmotor Corporation (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Towmotor Corporation (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schwehr, Richard A., Erker, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carroll, John A.
• Application Number:
  US05/909,414
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 296/28 R, 180/68.5, 280/638, 280/140, 280/142, 280/786, 280/800, 280/758, 280/759
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/14 of adjustable length or width

Abstract

A vehicle frame has first and second members having adjustably telescoping channel portions securable by bolts disposed in selected combinations of holes provided in the channel portions for providing a total vehicle frame of a chosen length and wheelbase. Adjacent portions of the respective members define portions of a battery compartment which varies with the size of the vehicle frame to accommodate the power requirements thereof. Channel shaped spacers join facing portions of the members for increased strength of the resulting frame.

A rear axle mounting assembly is adjustably mounted on the rear member for independent adjustment of the wheelbase.

A second embodiment has front and rear members secured by a selected nestable spacer member having an adjustable axle mounting for independent adjustment of the vehicle frame and wheelbase.

Claims

1. An adjustable vehicle frame comprising:

a first section;

a channel structure having a channel member secured to the first section and another channel member removably secured to the first section and in nesting relation with the secured channel member;

a second section;

a portion of the channel structure and a portion of the second section being in lapping relation; and

means for selectively securing together the lapping portions of the channel structure and second section in a variety of relative positions, whereby the length of the vehicle frame may be selectively adjusted.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein a portion of the second section overlies a portion of the channel structure.

3. The invention of claim 1 further comprising removable spacer means disposed between the first section and removable channel member.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the first section is a forward section and the second section is a rearward section.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the forward section further includes parallel rails joined by a crossplate and wherein the channel members extend rearwardly from the crossplate.

6. The invention of claim 1 further comprising spacer means of preselected width disposed between portions of said first and second sections for securing respective frame sections together at selected relative positions.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the spacer means comprises channel shaped spacer means adjacent to the channel structure.

8. An adjustable vehicle frame comprising:

a first section;

a channel structure secured to the first section wherein said first section further includes parallel rails joined by a crossplate and wherein said channel structure extends from said crossplate,

a second section;

a portion of the channel structure and a portion of the second section being in lapping relation; and

means for selectively securing together the lapping portions of the channel structure and second section in a variety of relative positions, whereby the length of the vehicle frame can be selectively adjusted.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein a portion of the channel structure overlies a portion of the second section.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the second section includes means forming a channel adapted to receive the channel member telescopically therein.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the first section is a forward section, and the second section is a rearward section.

12. An adjustable vehicle having a battery compartment comprising:

a first section;

a channel structure secured to the first section;

said first section including parallel rails joined by a crossplate and wherein said channel structure extends from said crossplate and wherein said battery compartment is disposed on said rails and crossplate;

a second section;

a portion of the channel structure and a portion of the second section being in lapping relation; and

means for selectively securing together the lapping portions of the channel structure and second section in a variety of relative positions, whereby the length of the vehicle frame may be selectively adjusted.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said battery compartment comprises a floorplate disposed on the rails and on the crossplate, and a front wall mounted on said floorplate, and rub rails provided at the sides of the floorplate.

14. The invention of claim 13 further comprising fender assemblies disposed outwardly of said rails and including side fenders which extend along sides of the first section, and wherein upper portions of the side fenders form said rub rails.

15. The invention of claim 12 wherein the first section includes rails joined by a crossplate and wherein the channel members extend from the crossplate.

16. An adjustable vehicle frame having a battery compartment comprising:

a first section including means forming a portion of the battery compartment;

a channel structure having a channel member secured to the first section and another channel member removably secured to the first section and in nesting relation with the secured channel member;

a second section including means forming a portion of the battery compartment;

a portion of the channel structure and a portion of the second section being in lapping relation; and

means for selectively securing together the lapping portion of the channel structure and second section in a variety of relative positions to selectively adjust the length of the frame and the battery compartment.

17. An adjustable vehicle frame comprising:

a first section;

a channel structure secured to the first section;

a second section;

a portion of the channel structure and a portion of the second section being in lapping relation;

means for selectively securing together the lapping portions of the channel structure and second section in a variety of relative positions to selectively adjust the length of the vehicle frame;

an axle mount; and

means for securing the axle mount to the first section in a variety of positions.

18. An adjustable vehicle frame comprising:

a first section;

a channel structure secured to the first section;

a second section;

a portion of the channel structure and a portion of the second section being in lapping relation;

means for selectively securing together the lapping portions of the channel structure and second section in a variety of relative positions to selectively adjust the length of the vehicle frame;

an axle mount; and

means for securing the axle mount to the channel structure in a variety of positions.

19. An adjustable vehicle frame comprising:

a first section;

a channel structure secured to the first section;

a second section;

a portion of the channel and a portion of the second section being in lapping relation;

means for selectively securing together the lapping portions of the channel structure and second section in a variety of relative positions to selectively adjust the length of the vehicle frame;

an axle mount; and

means for securing the axle mount to the second section in a variety of positions.

20. An adjustable vehicle frame having a battery compartment comprising:

a first section including means forming a portion of the battery compartment;

a channel structure secured to the first section;

a second section including means forming a portion of the battery compartment;

a portion of the channel structure and a portion of the second section being in lapping relation; and

means for selectively securing together the lapping portions of the channel structure and second section in a variety of relative positions to selectively adjust the length of the vehicle frame and the battery compartment for accommodating power requirements of the vehicle.

21. The invention of claim 20 further comprising means for mounting a counter weight on one section of the frame, whereby upon adjustment of the size of the vehicle frame, the effective moment arm of the counter balance will be correspondingly adjusted to accommodate the size of the vehicle.