US2326789A - Automobile body construction - Google Patents

Description

All@ 17, 1943. R. E. MARINE 2,326,789

AUTOMOBILE `BODY CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Jan. 14y 1921 INVENTOR I Patented Aug. 17, 194s Original application January 14, Y1927,' lSerial No. 161,179. Dividcdand this application March 31, 1928, Serial No.7266

the customary practice to make the frontbody post, together withv the adjacent 'vertical end member of the windshield frame, ofsufficiently small combined cross-sectional area to provide full vision to the driver. The advantages of a closed carfront body postv assembly having similar characteristics have likewisebeen .gen-` erally recognized. However, because "of theY strength and rigidity required of such posts and the fact that the assembly contains an .added element-the door post-the desired result of fullr vision was not easily attained without either an impairment of the strength and stability of the several posts of the assembly and their joints or the use of stronger and moreexpensive materials-such as bronze castings which are not adapted to quantity productionor both. i J

Prior practice has sought to obtain full vision in closed cal'rSbY reducing thecross-sectional area of the body 'post assemblyas much as possible-in other words, by making the cir.- cumscribing circle as small as practicable. Each element of the assembly was regarded as independent of the others and vvastherefore designed to sustain its own load. At the same time each was reduced to the limitin size in orderthat the aggregate might be a minimum. .In some cases the body post was made too weak to sustain its load under continued stresses and strains and in others the vdoor post was made so thin that the air currents produced at higher speeds passed between Vthe body and door-posts and tain full vision notwithstanding." More spe-L ciiically, my invention comprehends bringing two opposite sides, respectively, of the crossfsectional area of the postV assembly into alignment with the two corresponding sidesof the A,blind angle subtended by the assembly :with the drivers eyes.

,349. In France January 15 Claims. 01; L29e- 237) Since the convention-al bodypost assembly is approximately rectangularin crossf-section, with the two ffacesjof itsopposite sides insubstantial l alignment,; or parallel, l respec tively,., with thev opposite faces ofthe corresponding side ofthe carbody, and with tliefaces of.A its 'front andv rear; sides parallel Lto the instrument vpanel, 'and sinceeach of the two drivers lines ofvision past A' said assembly, makes an angle with thegiface of.V thecorrespondingside of said assembly, agenerally triangular-shaped space between each of said lines of vision and the corresponding face of the assembly results ,which Vconstitutes` Wasted space, `insofar asboth the drivers resultant field v of AVision and Vthe strength ofthe postgis conf jApplicant, by extending the. cross-,sectional area of said conventional iormrof pQstiassemblyl= f across said triangularspaces -tobring twooppositeiaces of said post assembly inta-*alignment f Y respectively with Vsaid ,corresponding sides off/the blind ar`1gle,veryI l:materiallyy increases the-crosse" Y sectional area ofthe post assembly, an'dithereV fore its strength, Without any increase irixthev 1 obstruction yto the driversyision.v .The resultant f great `increase' in strength permits reduction', of v the dimension of the post assemblytransversely to'the'driverfs linesfof vision toadggree neces-'- sary to .give full vision tothe drivenuwhile at"V thefsamev time it provides a'zbody postassembly of much greater cross-,sectional area and strength than other full vision postassemblies, Moreover',v by extending this `areafin-the direction of thejlines of vision of the drivers efyes,whi1e still maintaining its sides in alignment with the; d rivers `'respective' linesof vision past them,the

cross-sectional area .fof y the postA assembly, i v`and therefore its strength can beiurther increased toV any desired'degree.

inasmuch a'sthe driverj directs 4his attention v primarily to the'road'v in front and under ordinary circumstances merely turns 'his eyes", and not his. head, to glance to theright kor left vtocheck up on crosstraine, his ,two eyes are.. nearlyv in alignment asregardsthe far front body post assembly. Therefore, both eyes lie l substantiallyV at the verter :of the blind angle subtended by s aidpost assembly. Withreference-to the near-frontbody fpsta'ssemblmon the other hand, the two eyes are not so nearly Vin alignmentand areV therefore in .-more favorable position asiregardsfull? Vision. Hence,l since forv sakefof'lmiformitypof construction and design itmaybe desirable to inclineV vtheftwo assemblies' at. similar angles,

preference may advantageously be given tothe 2, angle most favorable to the far post assembly, although it is obvious that any other expedient may be adopted.

As a further fundamental and distinguishing feature of my invention the body post is advantageously made the dominant or superior element of the assembly, as by causing it to conform in general outline tothe outline of the entire assembly, vertical channels being formed therein for the reception of the door post and the Windbeen that the joints, particularly at the cowl and top, have had insufficient strength to stand the enormous strains imposed upon them. The effective Cross-sectional area of the post is of course a vital factor in determining the distribution of strain about the post joints; the larger the eiective area the stronger the j oint. Prior shield end frame member, if employed, both oiH the latter being made inferior or subordinate elements and normally lying preferably substan- K tially ush with the sides oi the body post,

or at least the major part of their View obe structing portions lying within said -vchannels.

Thus a maximum of strength is impartedtogi the body post, While the door post, sincer itVV is protected in closed or normal running` position within the channel in the body post, also partakes. of thetrength of. the latter.. This.' is in marked` `contrast to awconstructionwherein the door-lend frame member or post isrmade the dominantior superior. element and the body post is madetheinterior. or subordinate element'y and is hidden by thedoorpost. Herethebod-lIl post lacksv adequate strength for-closed car.l con-Y A structions since the door post, not beingfixed. rel-1 ative/.vtoL the bod-y construction, imparts nostrength tothe body post. Moreover, whereA thebody-postL isi of vflattened closed: Vmetallic tubular construction,v aslis advantageous for production operations, the vertical 'channels serve ascorruf gations greatly strengthening the structure .whileat the same time the space Within the tubularv post which would otherwise be wasted is utilized Vvtofiteduce the dimension ofthe assembly tra-nsverse-etothelinevof the driver-s vision.

, Itis ofcourse obvious'that the channelledcorrstructionof my post would be ofgreat util-ity even'wre the post? not given a diagonal position "alt- Vong-huit iindsi-ts kgreatest utility in the coopve1"`:}1. t`iv 'erelationsh-ips existing in such arrangement?. f

atftlie` lower-f ofthe posts, arch connections preferably` being provided` at the corners to in-l Y crease strength, (My-body post therefore acquires astrengtlr longitudinally and laterallyof :the vcar sidescomparablejto that of an ordinaryA rectan-f gularpostof which mine 4would constitute merely a diagonal'portion substantially of the shapeof a5para livellograin.` 'The rectangular postl or post assembly ofn the prior'art presents its Outer side to an observer on the exteriorjof the car and thus gives the impressioniof relative narrowness and weakness, while'at the same time the diagonalof thpost'transverse tothe drivers line of vision, whilrisj off materially greater length; obstructs the-driVers viewQto ama-Xirnumdegree; Inrny construction these conditionsv are reversed1 since the ou'tsidel observer usually seesthe diagonally` arranged post, or long side of the parallelcgram inl conjunction with its 'outer side, and therefore receives theA impression of greater width and` therefore strength, whereas the. driver viewsthe post longitudinally andl his vision'is'obstructed to aminirnum degree'.

` jA :compelling diiculty heretofore militating against the `adoptionfof narrow VvisionV posts- .has

art practice has heretofore Yassumed*that to improve visi'onthe cross-sectional area of the post niust be reduced, thereby weakening the post and its joints `below permissible limits. Thishas d necessitated the` use of solid posts and enlargements or special reinforcements at the joints,

`vwhilel-fail'ingto adequately solve the problem. BY elongatingthepost in the direction of the diivers line ois irg lit,' I *inorease the cross-sectional area ithe pos-t insteadgof reducing it, while at the same time reducing. its obstruction to Vision. By thenrmly securingT the increased periphery of the post to the metallic side and front top and cowi'; rails;jointsioir any desired strengthvv areproduced .effecting a, new result. in rthis art and' rendering.V quantity production. practicable.

i .Y While I'hayeshownrtheseverallieatures: ot' my invention in cooperative-V relationships wlIi-i'ch-'givemaximum eiiciencyv iti isrobyious. that they may be,` advantageously employed'. severallyin other combinations. Fnrzinstance it: has'` notbeenk an. preciatedethat by` constructing the forward-face ofi the assembly inw. alignment withttliiel kdri-'vers line-,oi sight-pastime post andlbylocating'the Windshieletiendrv frame; member behind-this line,

material-:improvement in vision would*resi-llt;` asl contemplatedbymy.invgntion The. same. advantagesas -ega-fdsi,.rmri-vson.

may-be obtained?, if desired,` by-asimilarV treat-- menit.otftliefntermed-iate-body posts.

- inventionrfurrther`v consists in;` such other newtand usefullimprovemen-tsg and: has' for'iur- -V ther obg'ects-such other-operative --advantages and results; as obtain inconstructibnshereinaitei d'esc llbedlor claimed. 1 l

- Inthe accompanyingdrawing;forming a part or" this specification, and showing for purposesl of' e'cemplifiriation preferrerzl` forms and manners'in wtnchthe inyentionf'may be embodied and prac.- ticed'bu-t witlirout-limitingftlre claimed invention' toysuch-.instance {1r-instances:

. Figurer isaparti-'al side` elevation ofa car'b'ody embodyingtne invention Y Fig-ure 2 isla-frontelevation showing tlie'fi'ont Stationary :may posts,l tcp` side rans- 'topv front. rail andl'cowlrai-l or"fra-ine.'Y

postVi shownfinFigure- 3.' Y :rieures attirano-'7 are-views simiarto rieures oimodied forms'of theipost anditlieviadjacent; members. I

fFigure 0r-'is' a`V cross-section. on,l thafl'n'e (8e-8i of Fig1pl1eZandA j i Figure; l'is'a diagrammatic vi'ew illustratingthe principle of: design'` of thecontour ofcross-sec-z tion Aof"the'1:\osts andi their connectionsftolthel part of the post cross-section projects substan tially beyond the lines 2, 3 enclosing lthe angle.

As the driver is ordinarily `nearer one front post than the other, this principle of .design strictly requires a slightlydiiferent/anglefor each post, but as it is ,usually desired to have similar posts; both postsmay be advantageously Yadjustedto the proper angle forthe far post, sincewhen desirable the head can berreadilymoved .to bring the eyes into alignment with thenear post.

In Fig.; 3, the post 4 is a closed hollow sheet metal structure of .substantially parallelogram form in general outlineV havingY a -cross-section profile elongated in the direction of thedrivers vision, the sides 5, 6 substantially coinciding with the lines 2, V3 of the angle A or B. A channel-'l in the side accommodates .the door side frame or post- 8, which together .with the. guide- 9 :for the` window Il-may conveniently lie Withinthe recess l, thus'offering no obstruction to vision. The wedge-shaped constructionof the recess 'l and door post 8 permits close fitting of the two! without danger of misalignment. AThe hollow metal post l may contain on. its interior' Wood or other anti-,vibration material l.

The window il slides infa door I2" which is hinged at i3 to the post 4. The'front side of the post il may be flattened as shown at MWhich the post crosssection contains a o channel 15a slightly set back from the front'face ofthe -post' x curved ,downwardlyto said post as shown at 33" l which channel I5ad accommodates the frame or i packing I6 of the windshield l1.

Figure 5 differs from Figure 3 only in that channel for the door frame Sis located Yfur'- the' ther outwards and extends to the outer contour r y 4 5, preferably tubular (Figures 1 and 2) with corof the vehicle body so thatfthe channel is-single sided.V This construction gives the appearance 'of continuity to the rectangular door Vframe I"as viewed from the outside and also permits the door to be hinged at its rear edge, rif desired. The channel I5 for the windshield'fra'me i6 is also shown as a single-sided channel, the frame |65 having its front -face insubstantial' alignment with the front face of the body post. Y

The construction shown in 'Figure 6` dilfers from that of Figure 3 mainly inthat the wind`` shield is moved forwardly, .the recess I5 and the .Windshield frame I6 'being made of triangular cross-section contour, as shown, in order topreserve the alignment;r of opaque 'members with the drivers line of vision. Y

In the modication shown in `Figure I the door may open at its front end, asshown. The cross- Y sectionY of the` body post is of irregular Z-shape comprising an intermediate Vportion lSfa'n inner advantageously tubularv portion I9, preferably welded closed, and an outer tubular portionZli, the portions I9 and 20 beingon the opposite sides of the intermediate portion I8. The door side frame 8"' is of triangular profile in cross-section Windshield frame lIf vision. The dotted, lines 22, 2324, 25 indicate a corresponding rectangular construction of front post and end door frameand it will be seen that the obstruction offered by such an assembly would correspondto the angle made by the lines 26, 21 extended to. thedrivers eye, Whereas ,with .the-

construction illustrated in Figure 7 the obstructed angle corresponds to that between the lines 28, 29.

In Figure 8 isshownthe top cross rail '40 prefe Y erably providedwith a windshield frame abut-` ment portion 4I and a tubular portion 42 desirably having its ,edge 43 welded to the abutment portion 4 I, where feasible, to give added strength.

The Vside toprail (lli` is preferably tubular and of ,a widthk substantiallyequal to the distance betion 32 restupon the top of said, post and firmlysecured to the latter about its periphery-as' by Welding, riveting, or the like. The flat inner portion 33 of the side rail 30'is 'also preferably rmly secured Yte the side l5 of said post,as by weldingY or riveting, and saidgportion V3,3 may valso'be tangular posts, of the dimensions shown in dotted lines 46, 41 Vin Figure 9, Aof which the actual posts are the di'agonals.k ,Y l l The posts 4 arealso preferably similarly connectedY together at `tl'ieirmid portions by the rail ner braceportions 45 and are also rmly secured I at theirlower ends Ato thefloor frame. i y 'I'hisapplication is a division of my application Serial No, 161,179, filedJanualyli, 1927.

j WhilefI have'sometimes used the conventional term blindangle to-designate, and the conventional angle to d iagrammaticallyy illustrata' the space between saidrespective lines of the drivers vision pastjthe respective sides of the post and when the door is closedit lies in the channel Y mediate portion I8 is open at 2| and constitutes 75 assembly, it is to be understood thatthey are e'm- I ployedfor convenience.of'desoription only, and'4 that in actual practice the principle of my invention is concerned onlywith the relationship ofV alignment between; ,two opposite sides of the cross-sectional area of the post assembly andsaid respective lines of lvision, as said lines in fact vac..v

tually exist in the region of the assembly, rather thanas conventionally shown.,

While in accordance with the patent statutes,

I have disclosed the best modes contemplated by meofapplying the fundamental characteristics l of my invention, I donot wish to be limited to the particular modes given as illustrative examples but aim to ycover all equivalent modes of rap- I e Y y plying these characteristics, both` asrto `the combinations andas to the sub-combinations-dis-` u Idosed.

Y I claim:

1.r In a vehicle construction in combination: a body post having a face in alignmentwith the drivers line of vision past the same, said face being provided between yits inner andk outer edges a guide forthe windshield l1 mounted-in ther -The rear side of the windshield frame |B '-may be extended inwardly, as shown, without interfering with the drivers It will thus be-seen that the rails 3lland40 `brace the'posts 4 and impart. Vto -them a strengthapproximately that of receA

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