Chassis

For the chassis, frame or chassis supporting parts of vehicles are called. Supporting parts have the function of supporting the drive, the body and the payload and to stabilize it against external forces. For vehicles with self-supporting body, the body is the supporting element.

On the chassis, the suspension, all the major drive components such as the gearbox and engine, where appropriate, the body or transporting receptacle and trailer hitches are attached. Chassis with frame can be roadworthy without body.

Designs

  • Head frame: two connected with cross beams longitudinal beams of open sections (up to the 1950s widespread, typical today for trucks ).
  • Box frame: as ladder frame, but for closed sections ( pipes ), stiffer than lead frame, suitable for all-steel bodies.
  • Lattice framework: spatial framework ( bars only subjected to train and pressure) mostly made ​​of tubes (motorcycles, sports cars of the fifties ).
  • Central tube frame: a round tube or a box of sheet metal in the longitudinal axis (Tatra, VW Beetle, Lotus Elan, Steyr -Puch Haflinger )
  • Platform frame: reinforced with closed profiles floor plate carries the chassis and the body (Renault 4).
  • " Space Frame ": truss ( parts also claimed to bending and shear ) of tubes, which is stiffened by suitable connections, load-bearing plates, but also glued windows. (Chrysler Airflow, AWS Shopper, Audi A8)
  • Self-supporting, also called monocoque shell construction or: Currently the usual build-up in car construction. Usually made of spot-welded sheet metal, is directly connected to the chassis and transfers all of the forces acting on the axles themselves Occasionally subframe ( subframe ) are used.

Not all types are directly attributable, as for example, base plates bring a unified appearance, but may be dispensable for the function of the chassis. Thus, the scope of the Citroën 2CV consists of two longitudinal beams with transverse bars like a box frame, but between the axles with plates top and bottom are as a central tube frame.

Trucks, their vehicle structure far reaches down to the ground, are built with central tube chassis.

Materials

Most of the frames are made ​​of steel. On motorcycles, frames made ​​of aluminum alloys are common. In addition, composite materials are used, especially in motorsport.

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