PRE-ENGINEERED FRAME PORTION AND METHOD OF USE THEREFOR

• US 20080053739A1
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: White, Tommy, Chernoff, Adrian
• Application Number:
  US11/851,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20080053739A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/400
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• 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 21/09 Means for mounting load bearing surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 24/02 Vehicle body, not intended to move relatively to the vehicle frame, and mounted on vibration absorbing mountings, e.g. rubber pads
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 24/04 Vehicle body mounted on resilient suspension for movement relative to the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/00 Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/02 Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A vehicle chassis includes a structural frame having a frame portion that partially defines an open space and that has a predetermined configuration such that the open space maintains a predetermined amount of spatial integrity in the event of a horizontal impact to the vehicle chassis. The frame also includes a frame component operatively connected to the frame portion that further defines the structural frame. The open space provides a protected packaging space wherein certain critical chassis components are placed. The frame portion configuration provides a pre-engineered protected area that may be used in a variety of structural frame configurations. Accordingly, a method for using pre-engineered frame portions is provided.

Claims

1. A vehicle chassis comprising:

a structural frame, the structural frame including;

a frame portion partially defining the structural frame, defining an open space, and having a predetermined configuration such that the open space maintains a predetermined amount of spatial integrity in the event of a horizontal impact to the vehicle chassis; and

at least one structural frame component operatively connected to the frame portion and further defining the structural frame.

2. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, further comprising:

at least three wheels rotatably mounted with respect to the structural frame;

an energy conversion system mounted with respect to the structural frame and operatively connected to at least one of the at least three wheels;

a steering system mounted with respect to the structural frame and operatively connected to at least one of the at least three wheels;

a braking system mounted with respect to the structural frame and operatively connected to at least one of the at least three wheels; and

an energy storage system operatively connected to the energy conversion system and mounted with respect to the structural frame;

wherein at least one of the energy conversion system, energy storage system, steering system, and braking system is at least partially located within the open space.

3. The vehicle chassis of claim 2, wherein the frame portion is a prefabricated module.

4. The vehicle chassis of claim 3, wherein the prefabricated module includes a plurality of segments defining the open space therebetween, and at least one augmentation segment operatively connected to at least one of the plurality of segments defining the open space;

and

wherein the at least one structural frame component is mounted to the at least one augmentation segment.

5. The vehicle chassis of claim 3, wherein the prefabricated module is at least partially formed by hydroforming.

6. The vehicle chassis of claim 2, wherein the braking system and the energy conversion system are responsive to non-mechanical control signals.

7. The vehicle chassis of claim 2, wherein the energy conversion system includes a fuel cell.

8. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, wherein the energy storage system is configured to store hydrogen.