Abstract: A body mount support bracket, including a central body portion having a pair of leg portions depending therefrom, is secured to a frame portion of a vehicle body and frame assembly by flexing the leg portions from a first, unstressed position to a second, stressed position so as to create internal stresses within the body mount support bracket. Then, the central body portion and the leg portions of the body mount support bracket are secured to the frame portion, such as by welding, adhesives, and the like. The flexing of the leg portions is performed to create internal stresses within the body mount support bracket that remain after the body mount support bracket has been secured to the frame assembly. These residual internal stresses are effective to increase the strength and rigidity of the body mount support bracket beyond what would normally be obtained if the body mount support bracket was secured to the frame assembly side rail in an unstressed condition.

Abstract: A structural member for use in a vehicle body and frame assembly includes an internal air tank for supplying pressurized air to an auxiliary device, such as an active suspension for the vehicle. The internal air tank may be generally cup-shaped, including a closed end portion, a plurality of side portions, and an outwardly extending flange portion that extends about an open end portion. The flange portion is secured to a first portion of the closed channel structural member to define an air-tight chamber. The chamber is adapted to selectively receive and store a quantity of a pressurized fluid therein, and further to selectively discharge such pressurized fluid to an auxiliary device. An opening can be formed through the structural member to facilitate fluid communication with the chamber. Alternately, the internal air tank may include a flexible bladder defining an air-tight chamber.

Abstract: A structural member for use in such a vehicle body and frame assembly includes an internal air tank for supplying pressurized air to an auxiliary device, such as an active suspension for the vehicle. The internal air tank may be generally cup-shaped, including a closed end portion, a plurality of side portions, and an outwardly extending flange portion that extends about an open end portion. The flange portion is secured to a first portion of the closed channel structural member to define an air-tight chamber. The chamber is adapted to selectively receive and store a quantity of a pressurized fluid therein, and further to selectively discharge such pressurized fluid to an auxiliary device. An opening can be formed through the structural member to facilitate fluid communication with the chamber. Alternately, the internal air tank may include a flexible bladder defining an air-tight chamber.

Abstract: A vehicle body and frame assembly includes a closed channel structural member having an interior portion that can be pressurized under certain conditions, such as during a collision, to provide increased strength and absorb energy. A pressurizing device communicates with the interior portion and contains a quantity of a chemical material that, when properly excited, will expand rapidly into a gaseous form. An igniter or other structure is provided for exciting the chemical material contained within the pressurizing device under predetermined conditions, such as when a collision occurs. The expansion of the chemical material into a gaseous form rapidly increases the air pressure within the closed channel structural member, thus providing additional strength thereto to absorb energy during the collision.