Symmetrical dash reinforcement

• US 6,260,914 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2000
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck and Engine Corporation
• Inventors: Nieminski, Brant R., Romie, Norbert E., Wolverton, Gordon J., Monteith, Gary E., Gibbs, Brian P., Thomas, David H., Kipfer, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US09/580,190
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 296/190.01, 296/190.08, 296/192, 296/194, 296/203.02, 180/90.(US only), D12/96, 280/779
• US Class Current: 296/190.08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/14 Dashboards as superstructure sub-units other dashboard aspects B60K
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/06 Drivers' cabs overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down B60R21/11; roll-over protection B60R21/13
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/14 the sub-units or components being passenger compartment fittings, e.g. seats, linings, trim, instrument panels

Abstract

A dash reinforcement for a mobile vehicle with a passenger cab such as a sport utility vehicle, or medium or heavy-duty truck. The dash reinforcement may be a stamped sheet metal panel that strengthens the dash structure of the cab and provides for mounting of vehicle components. The dash reinforcement may be symmetrical about the centerline of the vehicle and this symmetry allows the panel to accommodate both left-hand drive and right-hand drive vehicle configurations. The dash reinforcement also includes ‘Y’ shaped passages for a driver control module and for accessory equipment such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) modules. The unique shape of these passages or openings adds strength to the overall dash structure and hence the cab. The dash reinforcement may be engaged to a dash panel to form a dash assembly. The dash panels made be manufactured by the same metal stamping dies moved to account for left-hand versus right-hand drive and conventional versus cab-over-engine or low front engine configuration.

Claims

1. A dash reinforcement for use in a lower forward portion of a cab of a mobile vehicle, the cab of the vehicle having floor and a windshield area, and a centerline region of the cab that is also along a centerline of the vehicle and the vehicle having an engine compartment and a chassis, the chassis having at least one pair of steerable wheels, comprising:

sheet metal extending vertically the distance from the front edge of the floor of the cab to the lower edge of the windshield and said sheet metal spanning the distance of the width of the cab;

said sheet metal of said dash reinforcement arches to allow installation over the engine compartment;

said sheet metal of said dash reinforcement has two large openings, a right side opening on a right side of said sheet metal and a left side opening on a left side of said sheet metal, one opening to accommodate a steering column mounting for engagement to the steerable wheels and one to accommodate an accessory component;

said right side opening and said left side opening being on opposite sides of said arch over the engine compartment; and

said right side opening being a mirror image of the left side opening.

2. The dash reinforcement of claim 1, wherein:

said right side of said sheet metal and said left side of said sheet metal are symmetrical about the centerline of the cab.

3. The dash reinforcement of claim 2, wherein:

said right side opening and said left side opening are formed in a five major sided ‘

Y’

shape.

4. The dash reinforcement of claim 3, wherein:

said right side of said sheet metal containing said right side ‘

Y’

opening and said left side of said sheet metal containing said left side ‘

Y’

opening are engageable to a portion of the cab in close proximity to forward right side and left side vibration mounting insulators between a forward portion of the cab and the chassis.

5. The dash reinforcement of claim 4, wherein:

said sheet metal is a single integrated piece of sheet metal.

6. The dash reinforcement of claim 5, wherein:

said sheet metal is comprised of a high strength metal.

7. The dash reinforcement of claim 6, wherein:

said right side ‘

Y’

opening, said right side of said sheet metal, said left side ‘

Y’

, and said left side of said sheet metal are both shaped for and have means for engagement to a driver steering column for indirect engagement to and control of the steerable wheels upon installation in the vehicle.

8. The dash reinforcement of claim 6, wherein:

said right side ‘

Y’

opening, said right side of said sheet metal, said left side ‘

Y’

, and said left side of said sheet metal are both shaped for and have means for engagement to a driver control module containing vehicle operator pedals and a driver steering column and steering wheel for indirect engagement to and control of the steerable wheels upon installation in the vehicle.

9. The dash reinforcement of claim 7, wherein:

said right side ‘

Y’

opening, said right side of said sheet metal, said left side ‘

Y’

, and said left side of said sheet metal are both shaped for and have means for engagement to said accessory component.

10. The dash reinforcement of claim 9, wherein:

said accessory component is a heating ventilation and air conditioning module for providing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to the cab environment upon installation.

11. The dash reinforcement of claim 8, wherein:

said right side ‘

Y’

opening, said right side of said sheet metal, said left side ‘

Y’

, and said left side of said sheet metal are both shaped for and have means for engagement to said accessory component.

12. The dash reinforcement of claim 11, wherein:

said accessory component is a heating ventilation and air conditioning module for providing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to the cab environment upon installation.

13. The dash reinforcement of claim 10, wherein:

said sheet metal is formed by a stamping process.

14. The dash reinforcement of claim 12, wherein:

said sheet metal is formed by a stamping process.

15. The dash reinforcement of claim 10, wherein:

said right side ‘

Y’

opening and said left side ‘

Y’

opening each contain a slot cutout to allow water piping passage from the engine compartment to the cab.

16. The dash reinforcement of claim 12, wherein:

said right side ‘

Y’

opening and said left side ‘

Y’

opening each contain a slot cutout to allow water piping passage from the engine compartment to the cab.

17. A dash reinforcement for use in a lower forward portion of a cab of a mobile vehicle, the cab of the vehicle having floor and a windshield area, and a centerline region of the cab that is also along a centerline of the vehicle and the vehicle having an engine compartment and a chassis, the chassis having at least one pair of steerable wheels, comprising:

sheet metal extending vertically the distance from the front edge of the floor of the cab to the lower edge of the windshield and said sheet metal spanning the distance of the width of the cab;

said sheet metal of said dash reinforcement arches to allow installation over the engine compartment;

said sheet metal of said dash reinforcement has two large openings, a right side opening on a right side of said sheet metal and a left side opening on a left side of said sheet metal, one opening to accommodate a steering column mounting for engagement to the steerable wheels and one to accommodate an accessory component;

said right side opening and said left side opening being on opposite sides of said arch over the engine compartment; and

said right side of said sheet metal and said left side of said sheet metal are symmetrical about the centerline of the cab.

18. The dash reinforcement of claim 17, wherein:

said right side opening, said right side opening of said sheet metal, said left side opening, and said left side of said sheet metal are both shaped for and have means for engagement to a driver steering column for indirect engagement to and control of the steerable wheels upon installation in the vehicle.

19. The dash reinforcement of claim 17, wherein:

said right side opening, said right side of said sheet metal, said left side opening, and said left side of said sheet metal are both shaped for and have means for engagement to a driver control module containing vehicle operator pedals and a driver steering column and steering wheel for indirect engagement to and control of the steerable wheels upon installation in the vehicle.

20. The dash reinforcement of claim 18, wherein:

said right side opening, said right side of said sheet metal, said left side opening, and said left side of said sheet metal are both shaped for and have means for engagement to said accessory component.

21. The dash reinforcement of claim 20, wherein:

said accessory component is a heating ventilation and air conditioning module for providing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to the cab environment upon installation.

22. The dash reinforcement of claim 19, wherein:

said right side opening, said right side of said sheet metal, said left side opening, and said left side of said sheet metal are both shaped for and have means for engagement to said accessory component.

23. The dash reinforcement of claim 22, wherein:

said accessory component is a heating ventilation and air conditioning module for providing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to the cab environment upon installation.

24. The dash reinforcement of claim 21, wherein:

said right side opening and said left side opening each contain a slot cutout to allow water piping passage from the engine compartment to the cab.

25. The dash reinforcement of claim 23, wherein:

said right side opening and said left side opening each contain a slot cutout to allow water piping passage from the engine compartment to the cab.

26. A dash panel for engagement to a dash reinforcement for use in a lower forward portion of a cab of a mobile vehicle, the cab of the vehicle having floor and a windshield area, and a centerline region of the cab that is also along a centerline of the vehicle and the vehicle having an engine compartment and a chassis, the chassis having at least one pair of steerable wheels, comprising:

dash panel sheet metal extending vertically the distance from the front edge of the floor of the cab to the lower edge of the windshield and said dash panel sheet metal spanning the distance of the width of the cab;

said dash panel sheet metal having a lower center area defined for removal to allow installation over the engine compartment in a conventional engine forward of the cab vehicle application, said center area providing structural support in cab over engine vehicle applications;

said lower center area having a supporting structure defining said removable lower center area;

said dash panel sheet metal having two large dash panel openings, a right side dash panel opening on a right side of said sheet metal and a left side dash panel opening on a left side of said sheet metal, one dash panel opening to accommodate a steering column mounting for engagement to the steerable wheels and one to accommodate an accessory component;

said right side dash panel opening and said left side dash panel opening being on opposite sides of said removable lower center area; and

a top of said dash panel sheet metal flanged to allow assembly with the dash reinforcement.

27. The dash panel of claim 26, wherein:

said supporting structure defining said removable lower center area is stamped in rib of a shape that partially outlines said removable lower center area.

28. The dash panel of claim 27, wherein:

said right side opening and said left side opening having opening supporting structure in said dash panel sheet metal.

29. The dash panel of claim 28, wherein:

said supporting structures defining said right side and said left side openings are stamped in ribs of shapes that partially outline said right side and said left side openings.

30. The dash panel of claim 29, wherein:

said stamped in supporting ribs of said right side and said left side openings partially define a lower portion of said right side and left side openings.

31. The dash panel of claim 30, wherein:

said dash panel sheet metal is a single integrated piece of sheet metal.

32. The dash panel of claim 31, wherein:

said dash panel sheet metal is formed by stamping.

33. The dash panel of claim 32, wherein:

said opening to accommodate a steering column mounting is shaped for and has means for engagement to a driver control module containing pedals and a driver steering column for indirect engagement to and control of the steerable wheels upon installation in the vehicle.

34. The dash panel of claim 33, wherein:

said opening to accommodate a steering column mounting is a five sided ‘

Y’

shape.

35. The dash panel of claim 34, wherein:

said opening to accommodate an accessory component is shaped for and has means for engagement to said accessory component; and

said accessory component is a heating ventilation and air conditioning module for providing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to the cab environment upon installation.

36. The dash panel of claim 35, wherein:

said opening to accommodate an accessory component is in a ‘

Y’

shape.

37. The dash panel of claim 36, wherein:

said side of dash panel sheet metal containing said opening to accommodate an accessory component has a cutout to allow water piping passage from the engine compartment to the cab upon installation.

38. A dash assembly for use in a lower forward portion of a cab of a mobile vehicle, the cab of the vehicle having floor and a windshield area, and a centerline region of the cab that is also along a centerline of the vehicle and the vehicle having an engine compartment and a chassis, the chassis having at least one pair of steerable wheels, comprising:

a dash reinforcement engaged to dash panel;

said dash reinforcement comprising;

dash reinforcement sheet metal extending vertically the distance from the front edge of the floor of the cab to the lower edge of the windshield and said dash reinforcement sheet metal spanning the distance of the width of the cab;

said dash reinforcement sheet metal of said dash reinforcement arches to allow installation over the engine compartment;

said dash reinforcement sheet metal of said dash reinforcement has two large reinforcement openings, a right side reinforcement opening on a right side of said sheet metal and a left side reinforcement opening on a left side of said sheet metal, one reinforcement opening to accommodate a steering column mounting for engagement to the steerable wheels and one reinforcement opening to accommodate an accessory component;

said right side and said left side reinforcement openings being on opposite sides of said arch over the engine compartment; and

said right side reinforcement opening being a mirror image of the left side reinforcement opening;

said dash panel comprising;

dash panel sheet metal extending vertically the distance from the front edge of the floor of the cab to the lower edge of the windshield and said dash panel sheet metal spanning the distance of the width of the cab;

said dash panel sheet metal having a lower center area defined for removal to allow installation over the engine compartment in a conventional engine forward of the cab vehicle application, said center area providing structural support in cab over engine vehicle applications;

said lower center area having a supporting structure defining said removable lower center area;

said dash panel sheet metal having two large dash panel openings, a right side dash panel opening on a right side of said sheet metal and a left side dash panel opening on a left side of said sheet metal, one dash panel opening to accommodate the steering column mounting for engagement to the steerable wheels and one to accommodate the accessory component; and

said right side dash panel opening and said left side dash panel opening being on opposite sides of said removable lower center area; and

a top of said dash panel sheet metal flanged and said flange engaged to said dash reinforcement.

39. The dash assembly of claim 38, wherein:

said right side and said left side of said of said dash reinforcement sheet metal are symmetrical about the centerline of the cab.

40. The dash assembly of claim 39, wherein:

said right side reinforcement opening and said left side reinforcement opening are formed in a five major sided ‘

Y’

shape.

41. The dash assembly of claim 40, wherein:

said right side of said dash reinforcement sheet metal containing said right side ‘

Y’

reinforcement opening and said left side of said dash reinforcement sheet metal containing said left side ‘

Y’

reinforcement opening are engageable to a portion of the cab in close proximity to forward right side and left side vibration mounting insulators between a forward portion of the cab and the chassis.

42. The dash assembly of claim 41, wherein:

said right side ‘

Y’

reinforcement opening, said right side of said dash reinforcement sheet metal, said left side ‘

Y’

reinforcement opening, and said left side of said dash reinforcement sheet metal are both shaped for and have means for engagement to a driver control module containing vehicle operator pedals and a driver steering column and steering wheel for indirect engagement to and control of the steerable wheels upon installation in the vehicle.

43. The dash assembly of claim 42, wherein:

said right side ‘

Y’

reinforcement opening, said right side of said dash reinforcement sheet metal, said left side ‘

Y’

reinforcement opening, and said left side of said dash reinforcement sheet metal are both shaped for and have means for engagement to said accessory component; and

said accessory component is a heating ventilation and air conditioning module for providing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to the cab environment upon installation.

44. A cab of a mobile vehicle, the vehicle having an engine compartment and a chassis, the chassis having at least one pair of steerable wheels, comprising:

a floor and a windshield area;

a centerline region that is along a centerline of the vehicle;

a dash assembly comprising a dash reinforcement engaged to dash panel;

said dash reinforcement comprising;

dash reinforcement sheet metal extending vertically the distance from the front edge of the floor of the cab to the lower edge of the windshield and said dash reinforcement sheet metal spanning the distance of the width of the cab;

said dash reinforcement sheet metal of said dash reinforcement arches to allow installation over the engine compartment;

said dash reinforcement sheet metal of said dash reinforcement has two large reinforcement openings, a right side reinforcement opening on a right side of said sheet metal and a left side reinforcement opening on a left side of said sheet metal, one reinforcement opening to accommodate a steering column mounting for engagement to the steerable wheels and one reinforcement opening to accommodate an accessory component;

said right side and said left side reinforcement openings being on opposite sides of said arch over the engine compartment; and

said right side reinforcement opening being a mirror image of the left side reinforcement opening;

said dash panel comprising;

dash panel sheet metal extending vertically the distance from the front edge of the floor of the cab to the lower edge of the windshield and said dash panel sheet metal spanning the distance of the width of the cab;

said dash panel sheet metal having a lower center area defined for removal to allow installation over the engine compartment in a conventional engine forward of the cab vehicle application, said center area providing structural support in cab over engine vehicle applications;

said lower center area having a supporting structure defining said removable lower center area;

said dash panel sheet metal having two large dash panel openings, a right side dash panel opening on a right side of said sheet metal and a left side dash panel opening on a left side of said sheet metal, one dash panel opening to accommodate the steering column mounting for engagement to the steerable wheels and one to accommodate the accessory component; and

said right side dash panel opening and said left side dash panel opening being on opposite sides of said removable lower center area; and

a top of said dash panel sheet metal flanged and said flange engaged to said dash reinforcement.

45. The vehicle cab of claim 44, wherein:

said right side and said left side of said of said dash reinforcement sheet metal are symmetrical about said centerline.

46. The vehicle cab of claim 45, wherein:

said right side reinforcement opening and said left side reinforcement opening are formed in a five major sided ‘

Y’

shape.

47. The vehicle cab of claim 46, wherein:

said right side of said dash reinforcement sheet metal containing said right side ‘

Y’

reinforcement opening and said left side of said dash reinforcement sheet metal containing said left side ‘

Y’

reinforcement opening are engageable to a portion of the cab in close proximity to forward right side and left side vibration mounting insulators between a forward portion of said cab and the chassis.

48. The vehicle cab of claim 47, wherein:

said right side ‘

Y’

reinforcement opening, said right side of said dash reinforcement sheet metal, said left side ‘

Y’

reinforcement opening, and said left side of said dash reinforcement sheet metal are both shaped for and have means for engagement to a driver control module containing vehicle operator pedals and a driver steering column and steering wheel for indirect engagement to and control of the steerable wheels upon installation in the vehicle.

49. The vehicle cab of claim 48, wherein:

said right side ‘

Y’

reinforcement opening, said right side of said dash reinforcement sheet metal, said left side ‘

Y’

reinforcement opening, and said left side of said dash reinforcement sheet metal are both shaped for and have means for engagement to said accessory component; and

said accessory component is a heating ventilation and air conditioning module for providing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to the cab environment upon installation.