Vehicle having systems responsive to non-mechanical control signals

• US 20040163859A1
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Shabana, Mohsen D., Chernoff, Adrian B., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E., White, Tommy E., Vitale, Robert Louis
• Application Number:
  US10/758,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20040163859A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/004 for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/07 wide-hipped frame type, i.e. a wide box-shaped mid portion with narrower sections extending from said mid portion in both fore and aft directions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/10 in which the main member is plate-like
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/04 Joining preassembled modular units composed of sub-units performing diverse functions, e.g. engine and bonnet B62D65/06 - B62D65/16 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicle chassis having substantially all of the mechanical, electrical, and structural componentry necessary for a fully functional vehicle, including at least an energy conversion system, a steering system, and a braking system. The chassis is characterized by a simplified attachment interface at which a vehicle body is matable with the chassis.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a chassis having at least three wheels, at least one chassis electrical connector, a steering system operably connected to at least one wheel, a braking system operably connected to at least one wheel, and an energy conversion system operably connected to at least one wheel;

wherein at least one of said steering system, braking system, and energy conversion system is a by-wire system operatively connected to said at least one chassis electrical connector; and

a body mounted with respect to the chassis, the body including at least one body electrical connector engaged with said at least one chassis electrical connector, and a transducer operably connected to said at least one body electrical connector such that the transducer is operably connected to the by-wire system;

wherein the chassis is characterized by an upper chassis face;

wherein the body is characterized by a lower body face;

wherein said at least one chassis electrical connector is located at or above the upper chassis face or forms part of the upper chassis face; and

wherein said at least one body electrical connector is located at or below the lower body face or forms part of the lower body face.