DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to a front part structure of an automobile vehicle body. More particularly but not exclusively, to a body integrated load bearing structure for supporting a load acting in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

BACKGROUND
[002] Many safety features, crashworthy systems and devices are included in the vehicles to avoid any damage to the vehicle as well as the pedestrian/passenger during an accident. Front end of the vehicle is more prone to collisions. Hence the front end of the vehicles has impact absorbing structures. In the existing vehicles, there is no separate load bearing structure used for safety of the pedestrian/passenger during an accident. Also, the existing load bearing structure’s “Y” cross section is flat and uniform which may not be able to withstand the load properly.
[003] One of the conventional load bearing structure discloses girders, which are shaped metal sheets or of steel tubes of considerable thickness, and thus increases the weight of the overall vehicle body. Another conventional load bearing structure discloses a structural component to bear the load which is made of a cast component, and exhibits at least one suspension strut holding fixture and a bulkhead section, which are joined together as a single piece. Moreover, in conventional vehicles, the load bearing structure is the part of longitudinal member and can act as a single piece. Hence the longitudinal member is specific to the vehicles and is difficult to assemble.
[004] Hence there is a need for a body integrated load bearing structure which is integrated to a vehicle body for supporting a load acting on the vehicle body. Further, there exists a need for a body integrated load bearing structure which eliminates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of embodiments of this invention is to provide a load bearing structure which is integrated to a vehicle body for supporting a load acting on the vehicle body.
[006] Another object of the embodiments of this invention is to provide a load bearing structure which is easy to assemble.
[007] A further object of the embodiments of this invention is to provide a load bearing structure which has less weight.
[008] Yet another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a load bearing structure which withstands crash.
[009] Still another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a method of providing a load-bearing structural component 100 for supporting a load acting on a vehicle body.
[0010] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0011] The embodiments of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 depicts a front view of a load bearing structure, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0013] FIG. 2 depicts a top view of a load bearing structure, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0014] FIG. 3 depicts a left view of a load bearing structure, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0015] FIG. 4 depicts an isometric view of a chassis integrated with the load bearing structure, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0016] FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of a body integrated load bearing structure mounted on front end of the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0018] The embodiments herein achieve a load bearing structure which is integrated to a vehicle body for supporting a load acting on the vehicle body. Further, the embodiments herein achieve a load bearing structure which is easy to assemble. Furthermore, the embodiments herein achieve a method of providing a load-bearing structural component 100 for supporting a load acting on a vehicle body. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 1 depicts a front view of a load bearing structure 100, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the load-bearing structure 100 for supporting the load acting on the vehicle body, includes a load bearing frame member 102. The load bearing frame member 102 extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. In an embodiment, the load bearing structure 100 is formed in a U-shaped cross section.
[0020] In an embodiment, the load bearing frame member 102 further includes a first side wall 104, a second side wall 106 defined opposite to the first side wall 104, and a bottom wall 108 connecting the first side wall 104 with the second side wall 106. In an embodiment, the first side wall 104, the second side wall 106 and the bottom wall 108 are unitary.
[0021] FIG. 2 depicts a top view of a load bearing structure, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the first side wall 104 includes an upper protrusion structure 104a extending laterally outwards from the frame member 102, and an outer protrusion structure 104c extending vertically outwards from the frame member 102.
[0022] In an embodiment, the second side wall 106 includes an upper protrusion structure 106a extending laterally outwards from the frame member 102, and an outer protrusion structure 106c extending outwards from the frame member 102.
[0023] In an embodiment, the bottom wall 108 includes a lower protrusion structure 108b extending outwards from the frame member 102. Further, in an embodiment, the bottom wall 108 includes plurality of openings 124.
[0024] In an embodiment, the first side wall 104 and the second side wall 106 includes at least one first aperture 110 and at least one second aperture 112 respectively formed at a predetermined position of the frame member 102. In an embodiment, the first aperture 110 and the second aperture 112 are parallel to each other. In an embodiment, the first aperture 110 and the second aperture 112 are configured to receive a fastening means.
[0025] In an embodiment, the outer protrusion structure 104c of the first side wall 104 and the outer protrusion structure 106c of the second side wall 106 include a plurality of openings 114. In an embodiment, the frame member 102 further includes a plurality of first cavities 116 defined at predetermined locations on an edge connecting the first side wall 104 with the outer protrusion structure 104c of the first side wall 104, and a plurality of second cavities 118 defined at predetermined locations on an edge connecting the second side wall 106 with the outer protrusion structure 106c of the second side wall 106.
[0026] In an embodiment, the first side wall 104 includes a plurality of first ribs 120 extending from the bottom wall 108 towards the upper protrusion structure 104a of the first side wall 104. In an embodiment, the second side wall 106 includes a plurality of second ribs 122 extending from the bottom wall 108 towards the upper protrusion structure 106a of the second side wall 106.
[0027] FIG. 3 depicts a left view of a load bearing structure, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the load bearing frame member 102 includes a sloping profile “Y” defined on both the first side wall 104 and the second side wall 106 as shown in FIG. 2. In an embodiment, the sloping profile is defined at a predetermined angle. In an embodiment, the angle of the sloping profile ranges between 30° to 40°.
[0028] FIG. 4 depicts an isometric view of a chassis 126 integrated with the load bearing structure 100, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the load bearing structure 100 is joined with the chassis 126 by spot welding. It is to be noted that spot welding is one type of joining mechanism and any other type of mechanisms such as bolting, clamping, adhesive bonding can be used to integrate the chassis 126 with the load bearing structure 100.
[0029] FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of a body integrated load bearing structure mounted on front end of the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the front end includes a left side front end and a right side front end. In an embodiment, the load bearing structure 100 is provided at both sides of the front end of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the chassis 126 is firstly integrated with the load bearing structure 100 which is further welded to body (passenger cabin) by means of spot welding. It is to be noted that spot welding is one type of joining mechanism and any other type of mechanisms such as bolting, clamping, adhesive bonding can be used to integrate the body with the load bearing structure 100.
[0030] In an embodiment, a slope of 35° (similar to the Slope Y) is provided on a front floor the vehicle to form a complete closed section. This complete closed section forms a load transfer path to chassis 126 during an impact. In an embodiment, the outer protrusion structure 104c and the outer protrusion structure 106c includes a mounting means to facilitate a crash box attachment. The crash box (not shown) is configured to absorb the impact energy initially and then transfers the load by means of the load bearing structure 100 to the chassis 126.
[0031] In an embodiment, a method 200 of providing a load-bearing structural component 100 for supporting a load acting on a vehicle body. The method includes, providing a load bearing frame member 102 extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and having a U-shaped cross section. Further, the load bearing frame member 102 includes, a first side wall, a second side wall defined opposite to the first side wall, and a bottom wall connecting the first side wall with the second side wall. Further, the first side wall includes an upper protrusion structure, and an outer protrusion structure extending outwards from the frame 102. Furthermore, the second side wall includes an upper protrusion structure, and an outer protrusion structure extending outwards from the frame 102. Additionally, the bottom wall includes a lower protrusion structure extending outwards from the frame 102.
[0032] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

Referral Numerals:
Load bearing structure 100
Frame member 102
First side wall 104
Upper protrusion structure of first side wall 104a
outer protrusion structure of first side wall 104c
Second side wall 106
Upper protrusion structure of second side wall 106a
outer protrusion structure of second side wall 106c
Bottom wall 108
lower protrusion structure of bottom wall 108b
First aperture 110
Second aperture 112
Plurality of openings on outer protrusion structure of first side wall and second side wall 114
Plurality of first cavities 116
Plurality of second cavities 118
First ribs 120
Second ribs 122
Plurality of openings in bottom wall 124
Chassis 126
,CLAIMS:CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A load-bearing structure 100 for supporting a load acting on a vehicle body, comprising:
a load bearing frame member 102 extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and having a U-shaped cross section;
the load bearing frame member 102 includes:
a first side wall 104;
a second side wall 106 defined opposite to the first side wall 104; and
a bottom wall 108 connecting the first side wall 104 with the second side wall 106;
wherein
the first side wall 104 includes an upper protrusion structure 104a, and an outer protrusion structure 104c, each extending outwards from the frame member 102;
the second side wall 106 includes an upper protrusion structure 106a, and an outer protrusion structure 106c, each extending outwards from the frame member 102; and
the bottom wall 108 includes a lower protrusion structure 108b extending outwards from the frame member 102.

2. The load-bearing structure 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first side wall 104 and the second side wall 106 includes at least one first aperture 110 and at least one second aperture 112 respectively formed at a predetermined position.

3. The load-bearing structure 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load bearing frame member 102 includes a sloping profile “Y” defined on the first side wall 104 and the second side wall 106.

4. The load-bearing structure 100 as claimed in claim 3, wherein an angle of the sloping profile ranges between 30° to 40°.

5. The load-bearing structure 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load bearing structural component 100 is integrated to the vehicle body by at least one of welding, bolting, clamping, and adhesive bonding.

6. The load-bearing structure 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer protrusion structure 104c of the first side wall 104 and the outer protrusion structure 106c of the second side wall 106 includes a plurality of openings 114.

7. The load-bearing structure 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first side wall 104 includes a plurality of first ribs 120 extending from the bottom wall 108 towards the upper protrusion structure 104a of the first side wall 104.

8. The load-bearing structure 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second side wall 106 includes a plurality of second ribs 122 extending from the bottom wall 108 towards the upper protrusion structure 106a of the second side wall 106.

9. The load-bearing structure 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame member 102 further includes:
a plurality of first cavities 116 defined at predetermined locations on an edge connecting the first side wall 104 with the outer protrusion structure 104c of the first side wall 104; and
a plurality of second cavities 118 defined at predetermined locations on an edge connecting the second side wall 106 with the outer protrusion structure 106c of the second side wall 106.

10. A method 200 of providing a load-bearing structure 100 for supporting a load acting on a vehicle body, said method comprising steps of:
providing a load bearing frame member 102 extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and having a U-shaped cross section;
the load bearing frame member 102 includes:
a first side wall 104;
a second side wall 106 defined opposite to the first side wall 104; and
a bottom wall 108 connecting the first side wall 104 with the second side wall 106;
wherein
the first side wall 104 includes an upper protrusion structure 104a, and an outer protrusion structure 104c, each extending outwards from the frame member 102;
the second side wall 106 includes an upper protrusion structure 106a, and an outer protrusion structure 106c, each extending outwards from the frame member 102; and
the bottom wall 108 includes a lower protrusion structure 108b extending outwards from the frame member 102.