Modular chassis with simplified body-attachment interface
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle chassis comprising:
- a structural frame;
vehicular systems mounted with respect to the structural frame, the vehicular systems including a suspension system, a steering system, a braking system, an energy conversion system, and an energy storage system operatively connected to the energy conversion system;
at least three wheels rotatably mounted with respect to the suspension system; and
a plurality of preassembled modules having vehicular components at least partially forming at least one of the suspension system, the steering system, the braking system, the energy conversion system, and the energy storage system;
wherein the steering system, braking system, and energy conversion system are responsive to nonmechanical control signals and operatively connected to at least one of the wheels.
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Abstract
A chassis having systems responsive to a nonmechanical control signals and a simplified body-attachment interface includes preassembled modules to enhance ease and simplicity of chassis assembly. The chassis is preferably configured to minimize the possibility of a preassembled module being incorrectly positioned within the chassis. Methods for advantageously employing preassembled modules to assemble vehicle chassis are also provided.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A vehicle chassis comprising:
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a structural frame;
vehicular systems mounted with respect to the structural frame, the vehicular systems including a suspension system, a steering system, a braking system, an energy conversion system, and an energy storage system operatively connected to the energy conversion system;
at least three wheels rotatably mounted with respect to the suspension system; and
a plurality of preassembled modules having vehicular components at least partially forming at least one of the suspension system, the steering system, the braking system, the energy conversion system, and the energy storage system;
wherein the steering system, braking system, and energy conversion system are responsive to nonmechanical control signals and operatively connected to at least one of the wheels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of assembling vehicle chassis, the method comprising:
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maintaining an inventory of preassembled modules, the preassembled modules each having vehicular componentry and a module interface engageable with a complementary interface, the module interface of each of the preassembled modules having a common module interface configuration; and
assembling a first vehicle chassis having a first length, width, and height, the first vehicle chassis having a first structural frame;
a first steering system;
a first braking system;
a first energy conversion system;
a first energy storage system operatively connected to the first energy conversion system;
a first suspension system mounted with respect to the first structural frame;
a first set of at least three wheels rotatably mounted with respect to the first suspension system;
a first structural frame interface complementary to the module interfaces of the preassembled modules in the inventory; and
a first module selected from the inventory having componentry that at least partially forms at least one of the first steering system, first braking system, first suspension system, first energy conversion system, and first energy storage system;
the module interface of the first module engaged with the first structural frame interface such that the first module is mounted with respect to the first structural frame;
wherein the first steering system, first braking system, and first energy conversion system are mounted with respect to the first structural frame, responsive to nonmechanical control signals, and operatively connected to at least one wheel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of assembling vehicle chassis, the method comprising:
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maintaining an inventory of preassembled modules each having vehicular componentry and a module interface with a plurality of locking or fastening elements, the inventory including a plurality of preassembled modules having module interface configurations different from one another; and
assembling a first chassis having a first length, a first width, and a first height, the first chassis including a first structural frame;
a plurality of fastening or locking elements mounted with respect to the first structural frame, the plurality of fastening or locking elements defining a first set of frame interfaces having a predetermined spatial relationship with one another, each of the frame interfaces being configured to engage only one of the module interface configurations in the inventory, at least two of the frame interfaces of the first set having frame interface configurations different from one another;
a first by-wire steering system mounted with respect to the first structural frame;
a first by-wire braking system mounted with respect to the first structural frame;
a first by-wire energy conversion system mounted with respect to the first structural frame;
a first energy storage system operatively connected to the first energy conversion system;
a first suspension system mounted with respect to the first structural frame;
a first set of at least three wheels mounted with respect to the first suspension system; and
a first set of preassembled modules selected from the inventory, each of the preassembled modules of the first set at least partially forming at least one of the first steering system, first braking system, first energy conversion system, first energy storage system, and first suspension system;
the module interface of each of the first set of preassembled modules engaged with one of the first set of frame interfaces such that the first set of preassembled modules is mounted with respect to the first structural frame. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification