Method of Manufacturing a Vehicle Body

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a vehicle body is disclosed. A frame member is formed to have a tubular shape in an open cross-sectional structure in which one side surface thereof is opened and a fastening portion is formed in a shape to close an opening portion at an end of the frame member. The fastening portion and the frame member are formed so that the fastening member closes the opening portion at the end of the frame member and the fastening portion is configured to be fastened to another frame member by a fastener in a surface-contact state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a vehicle body, comprising:
 providing a plate-shaped material having side surface-blocking portions formed on both sides of a side surface-connecting portion, and a fastening portion formed at an end of the side surface-connecting portion to extend such that the side surface-connecting portion is longer than the side surface-blocking portions;   folding the side surface-blocking portions in the same direction based on the side surface-connecting portion to form the plate-shaped material to have a tubular shape in an open cross-sectional structure in which one side surface thereof is opened; and   folding the fastening portion toward the folded side surface-blocking portions to close an opening portion formed at the end and couple the fastening portion to the side surface-blocking portions to thereby form a frame member.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming a fastening hole in the fastening portion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after folding the side surface-blocking portions, forming flange portions by folding end portions of the side surface-blocking portions in a direction to face each other. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising attaching the fastening portion to another frame member. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the fastening portion is attached to the other frame member with a fastener so that the frame member is in a surface-contact state with the other frame member. 
     
     
         6 . A method of manufacturing a vehicle body, the method comprising:
 forming a frame member to have a tubular shape in an open cross-sectional structure in which one side surface thereof is opened and forming a fastening portion in a shape to close an opening portion at an end of the frame member;   wherein the fastening portion and the frame member are formed so that the fastening member closes the opening portion at the end of the frame member; and   wherein the fastening portion is configured to be fastened to another frame member by a fastener in a surface-contact state.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the forming comprises extending the fastening portion in a longitudinal direction at an end of a side surface-connecting portion opposite to a side surface-open portion of the frame member, wherein the fastening portion is folded toward the opening portion to close the opening portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method  claim 7 , further comprising forming an additional fastening portion partially closing the side surface-open portion by folding the fastening portion closing the opening portion toward the side surface-open portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein forming the fastening portion comprises forming the fastening portion so that a cross section of the fastening portion matches a cross section of the opening portion so that the fastening portion and the opening portion are joined to each other at a matching area. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising forming two flange portions by folding side surface-blocking portions at end portions thereof toward the side surface-open portion, the side surface-blocking portions extending from the side surface-connecting portion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising joining ends of a mounting plate to both flange portions, respectively, to prevent a distance between the side surface-blocking portions from being increased or decreased. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the frame member has a rigidity providing portion formed to have a closed cross-sectional structure at an edge of an inner wall surface thereof in a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising fastening the fastening portion to a second frame member. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 forming a second frame member;   connecting first ends of the frame member and the second frame member to front pillar members extending from a front side to a roof side on both sides of the vehicle body;   connecting second opposite ends of the frame member and the second frame member to rear pillar members extending from a rear side to the roof side on the both sides of the vehicle body; and   bending middle portions of the frame member and the second frame member to face areas where the front pillar members are connected to the rear pillar members.   
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a vehicle body, the method comprising:
 connecting a first frame member to a first fastening portion, the first frame member having a tubular shape in an open cross-sectional structure in which one side surface thereof is opened and the first fastening portion having a shape to close an opening portion at an end of the first frame member;   connecting a second frame member to a second fastening portion, the second frame member having a tubular shape in an open cross-sectional structure in which one side surface thereof is opened and the second fastening portion having a shape to close an opening portion at an end of the second frame member;   connecting a first end of the first frame member to a first front pillar member that extends from a front side to a roof side on a first side of the vehicle body;   connecting a second opposite end of the first frame member to a first rear pillar member that extends from a rear side to the roof side on the first side of the vehicle body;   connecting a first end of the second frame member to a second front pillar member that extends from the front side to the roof side on a second side of the vehicle body; and   connecting a second opposite end of the second frame member to a second rear pillar member that extends from the rear side to the roof side on the second side of the vehicle body.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein middle portions of the first and second frame members are bent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising connecting side reinforcing members to the first and second rear pillar members and the first and second frame members, the side reinforcing members extending from the front side on the first and second sides of the vehicle body through a lower side of the vehicle body to the rear side on the first and second sides of the vehicle body.