FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
"ASYMMETRIC MODULAR FRAME DESIGN" APPLICANT
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
INVENTORS
Saifuddin, Pratyush Khare , Anil Kumar
All Indian national
of TATA MOTORS LIMITED,
an Indian company having its registered office
at Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification describes the invention
1

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a frame design for effective energy absorption of the impact due to accident.
BACKGROUND
In a vehicle, impacts are a common type of accident. Impacts are unsafe for the occupant and fuel system reliability. The design of vehicle structure should be capable of sustaining such impacts. In the event of a rear-end collision, the rear floor is typically deformed toward the head of a vehicle resulting in loosening the support to the fuel tank where the tank is fixed to a chassis frame. As a result, the rear portion of the fuel tank is drooped downward under its own weight. However, there is a potential risk of explosion of the fuel tank because of the movement of the fuel tank in a fore-and-aft direction.
The European rear impact regulation calls for assessment of survival space for the rearmost seat occupant and the fuel system reliability when vehicle is impact tested at 35-38kmph (Reference standards such as - EG ECER32 and ECER 34). This regulation is also applicable in many non-European countries. However, some countries have stringent requirements and require the fuel system reliability to be assessed when the vehicle is rear impact tested at 48-50kmph (KMVSS Art 91- Korea). In the body-over-chassis construction, the main energy absorbing structure is the chassis frame. Therefore, the design of the frame needs to be optimized for effective energy absorption.
As shown in Figure 1, the prior art frame assembly is shown with tank mounting arrangement. As can be seen tank 101 is mounted at the crank region 102. The crank region is where the frame members are bend in the vertical direction. The crank region
2

is the weakest area for failure when the vehicle is impacted. The tank is mounted on the cross member and one side of the frame. As such when the vehicle is impacted from rear side, the crank region tends to collapse and therefore the tank is likely to bend across the longitudinal axis of the tank. Any bend in the tank can cause crack in the tank and there is a risk for leakage of the petrol causing explosion.
Generally, the high impact requirements are incorporated by designing a new frame thereby making it bulky, and costly.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a frame design for effective energy absorption.
Another object of the present invention is to ensure fuel system reliability in case of vehicle impact, in particular from rear side.
Yet another object of the present invention is to ensure seat occupant safety in case of vehicle impact, in particular from rear side.
Further object of the present invention is to meet impact regulations of various countries.
Further object of the present invention is to design select members of frame for collapsing and absorbing the impact without allowing the impact energy to travel to crank area and fuel mounting area.
Further object of the present invention use the present design with minimal modifications to meet higher standards for impact.
3

Further object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of the frame for higher impact requirement.
The invention is described with reference to the embodiment given hereinafter. It may however be understood that the embodiments are only by way of example and that the invention may be exemplified in many other ways obvious to a person skilled in the art.
Brief of DESCRIPTION of Drawings
Figure 1 shows the frame assembly as used currently with tank mounting arrangement
of tank in the crank region
Figure 2 shows the improved frame assembly with tank mounting arrangement of tank
away from the crank region
Figure 3 shows another view of the improved frame assembly with tank mounting
arrangement of tank away from the crank region
Figure 4 shows another view of the improved frame assembly with tank mounting
arrangement of tank away from the crank region along with reinforced members.
Figure 5 shows another view of the improved frame assembly with reinforced members
at selective locations.
Legends -
100 - Frame assembly
101 -Fuel Tank
102-Crank region
103 - Rear side of the frame
4

104 - Reinforcement members
105 - Tank mounting bracket
106 - Reinforcement rod with cutout at the end to absorb the shock by collapsing.
DESCRIPTION
The objectives are achieved by selectively strengthening the frame which is designed for lower impact standards; thus ensuring use of base frame for all the standards without increasing the cost. Also the location of the tank is moved away from the crank region which is damage prone area of the frame assembly.
As shown in Figure 2, 3 and 4, the tank 101 is mounted away from the crank region. Also, selective reinforcement 104 is shown in Figure 3, 4 and 5. These reinforcement members are designed to provide maximum strength with minimum addons to meet the higher impact standards. The supporting bracket to the tank also serves as additional reinforcement members to the frame assembly.
Also as be in Figure 5, cross member 6 has been given a special cut to create a space to absorb the energy of the impact before it has any chance to reach the crank region.
The fuel tank location in crank area of chassis frame could lead to risk of the fuel tank damage, as the crank regions are weak in dynamic impacts. Therefore, the fuel tank could be mounted away from the frame crank region in such a way that it eliminates any risk to the fuel tank due to frame bending and deformations at the crank region.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various
5

modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that such modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as defined.
Dated this 18th Day of June 2007
To
The Controller of Patents
The Patent office at Mumbai
6