Drainable section stabilizer sleeve

• US 9,428,224 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Saje, Robert N., Johnson, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US13/929,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20150001822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 180/311, 180/312, 280/781, 280/782, 296/203.01, 296/208, 296/209, 296/213, 296/154, 523/025, 522/97, 522/98
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/24 Superstructure sub-units with access or drainage openings having movable or removable closures; Sealing means thereforinlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05

Abstract

A product comprising a drainable section stabilizer sleeve for a vehicle body structure.

Claims

1. A product comprising:

a stabilizer sleeve;

wherein the stabilizer sleeve includes a body;

wherein the body includes a close out feature and a hollow portion;

wherein the body includes at least one lateral hole which abuts the close out feature; and

wherein the close out feature is a threaded bore which is constructed and arranged to mate with a mechanical fastener.

2. The product of claim 1 wherein a lower portion of the body includes a lip.

3. The product of claim 1 wherein the stabilizer sleeve is cylindrical.

4. The product of claim 1 wherein the stabilizer sleeve comprises aluminum.

5. The product of claim 1 wherein the stabilizer sleeve comprises aluminum alloy.

6. The product of claim 1 wherein the stabilizer sleeve is extruded.

7. The product of claim 1 wherein the stabilizer sleeve is constructed and arranged to be inserted into a cavity of a vehicle body structure.

8. The product of claim 7 wherein the stabilizer sleeve is attached to the vehicle body structure.

9. The product of claim 8 wherein the vehicle body structure includes an upper surface and a lower surface;

wherein an upper portion of the body of the stabilizer sleeve is welded to the upper surface of the vehicle body structure; and

wherein a lower portion of the stabilizer sleeve is welded to the lower surface of the vehicle body structure.

10. The product of claim 7 wherein the vehicle body structure is a section of a front rail.

11. The product of claim 7 wherein the vehicle body structure is a section of a 6-bar.

12. The product of claim 7 wherein the vehicle body structure is a section of a rocker.

13. The product of claim 8 wherein the vehicle body structure and the stabilizer sleeve are attached to a vehicle component.

14. The product of claim 10 wherein the section of the front rail is attached to a cradle via the close out feature.

15. The product of claim 12 wherein the section of the rocker is attached to an underbody bracing attachment via the close out feature.

16. The product of claim 11 wherein the section of the 6-bar is attached to a cradle via the close out feature.

17. The product of claim 8 wherein the section stabilizer provides localized stiffness to the vehicle body structure.

18. A product comprising:

a stabilizer sleeve;

wherein the stabilizer sleeve includes a body;

wherein the body includes an upper portion and a lower portion;

wherein the upper portion is hollow;

wherein the lower portion includes a close out feature; and

wherein the stabilizer sleeve is constructed and arranged to be inserted into a cavity of a section of a vehicle 6-bar or a section of a vehicle rocker.

19. The product of claim 18 wherein the stabilizer sleeve is inserted into the section of the 6-bar, and wherein the 6-bar is attached to a cradle via the close out feature.

20. The product of claim 18 wherein the stabilizer sleeve is inserted into the section of the rocker, and wherein the rocker is attached to an underbody bracing attachment via the close out feature.

21. A product comprising:

a stabilizer sleeve;

wherein the stabilizer sleeve includes a body;

wherein the body includes an upper portion and a lower portion;

wherein the upper portion is hollow;

wherein the lower portion includes a close out feature;

wherein the upper portion of the body includes at least one hole located at a bottom end of the upper portion of the body adjacent the close out feature;

wherein the stabilizer sleeve is attached to a vehicle body structure, wherein the vehicle body structure includes an upper surface and a lower surface; and

wherein the upper portion of the body of the stabilizer sleeve is welded to the upper surface of the vehicle body structure and the lower portion of the stabilizer sleeve is welded to the lower surface of the vehicle body structure.

22. A product comprising:

a stabilizer sleeve;

wherein the stabilizer sleeve includes a body;

wherein the body includes an upper portion and a lower portion;

wherein the upper portion is hollow;

wherein the lower portion includes a close out feature;

wherein the upper portion of the body includes at least one drain hole located at a bottom end of the upper portion of the body adjacent the close out feature;

wherein the stabilizer sleeve is inserted into a cavity of a section of a front rail; and

wherein the section of the front rail is attached to a cradle via the close out feature.