COMPACT VEHICLE

• US 20150203162A1
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Searchware Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Searchware Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Suzuki, Masanobu
• Granted Patent: US 9,440,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/02 arranged at the vehicle front lids or bonnets B62D25/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0405 characterised by their position
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0411 Arrangement in the front part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0416 Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0007 Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/24 for particular purposes or particular vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23146 seat mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 : specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/112 : City movers, small sized city motor vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/01 : Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/152 : Front or rear frames
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 31/003 : compact cars, e.g. city cars
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A seat section protecting structure, having a seat at the center thereof, is supported on a chassis frame so that it can swivel horizontally. While running, the lateral side of the seat is covered by the seat section protecting structure so as to protect the passenger from the risk of a collision from the side of the vehicle or a rollover, and while the passenger gets on/off, the seat section protecting structure swivels so that the opening, which allows the passenger to get on/off therethrough, is located on the lateral side of the vehicle. The vehicle has its seat and batteries arranged at optimal positions so as to increase the space efficiency and safety within a limited volume space. Moreover, a steering handle is provided, which is made while taking passenger accessibility into consideration, and an airbag unique to this vehicle is provided in order to increase safety.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A compact vehicle comprising:

a chassis frame supporting a front wheel, a rear wheel, a driving device for driving the front wheel or the rear wheel, and a steering device for steering the front wheel or the rear wheel;

a passenger compartment arranged generally at a center of the chassis frame; and

a single passenger seat in a width direction of the vehicle, the passenger seat being arranged in the passenger compartment;

wherein a passenger protecting structure is formed by an outer shell of the passenger compartment and a sub-frame;

the passenger protecting structure is formed by a seat section protecting structure and a front section protecting structure;

the seat section protecting structure covers lateral sides and an upper side of the seat;

has a single opening on a front side of the seat, allowing the passenger to get on/off; and

is supported on the chassis frame so that the seat section protecting structure can swivel horizontally together with the seat; and

the front section protecting structure is capable of coupling to the seat section protecting structure so as to shut the opening of the seat section protecting structure; and

is supported on the chassis frame independently of the seat section protecting structure.

17. The compact vehicle according to claim 16, wherein an un-swiveled position is defined as a position where the opening of the seat section protecting structure is facing in a forward direction with respect to a vehicle running direction;

a swiveled position is defined as a position where the opening of the seat section protecting structure is facing either left or right with respect to the vehicle running direction;

a coupled position is defined as a position where the front section protecting structure and the seat section protecting structure are coupled to each other;

a separated position is defined as a position where the front section protecting structure and the seat section protecting structure are separated from each other; and

the front section protecting structure or the seat section protecting structure is moved between the coupled position and the separated position so that the front section protecting structure is out of a range of swivel of the seat section protecting structure so that the seat section protecting structure can swivel between the un-swiveled position and the swiveled position.

18. The compact vehicle according to claim 17, wherein a structure moving space area is provided on a lateral side of the front wheel or the rear wheel above the chassis frame, the structure moving space area allowing the front section protecting structure or the seat section protecting structure to move between the coupled position and the separated position;

and

the structure moving space area shares a space with a crushable zone in which the chassis frame can deform upon a head-on collision or a rear-end collision of the vehicle so as to absorb an impact energy upon collision.

19. A compact vehicle according to claim 17, wherein a structure moving space area is provided on a lateral side of the front wheel or the rear wheel above the chassis frame, the structure moving space area allowing the front section protecting structure or the seat section protecting structure to move between the coupled position and the separated position;

a battery protection case for accommodating a battery for supplying power to the driving device is supported on the chassis frame via a battery support member between a rear side of the front wheel and the passenger protecting structure or between a front side of the rear wheel and the passenger protecting structure;

an impact strength of the battery support member is set to be lower than an impact strength of the battery protection case; and

when the vehicle undergoes a collision on a side surface thereof, the battery support member can deform and break, thereby allowing the battery protection case to move into the structure moving space area.

20. The compact vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the front section protecting structure is supported, via a support member, on the chassis frame independently of the seat section protecting structure;

a bent portion is formed in an intermediate portion of the support member of the front section protecting structure; and

an impact strength of the support member of the front section protecting structure is set to be lower than an impact strength of the passenger protecting structure.

21. The compact vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the seat section protecting structure includes, in a vertically intermediate portion thereof, a generally arc-shaped rear horizontal sub-frame extending from behind the seat and covering a left side and a right side to be open on a front side;

the front section protecting structure includes, in a vertically intermediate portion thereof, a generally arc-shaped front horizontal sub-frame which is open on a rear side; and

a ring-shaped horizontal sub-frame assembly is formed by the rear horizontal sub-frame and the front horizontal sub-frame.

22. The compact vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the opening of the seat section protecting structure is reinforced by a ring-shaped vertical sub-frame.

23. The compact vehicle according to claim 16, comprising coupling lock means capable of coupling and de-coupling between the front section protecting structure and the opening of the seat section protecting structure;

and

positioning means for regulating a position of a coupled portion between the front section protecting structure and the opening of the seat section protecting structure.

24. A compact vehicle comprising:

a chassis frame supporting a front wheel, a rear wheel, a driving device for driving the front wheel or the rear wheel, and a steering device for steering the front wheel or the rear wheel;

a passenger compartment arranged generally at a center of the chassis frame; and

a single passenger seat in a width direction of the vehicle, the passenger seat being arranged in the passenger compartment, wherein;

a passenger protecting structure is formed by an outer shell of the passenger compartment and a sub-frame;

the passenger protecting structure includes a seat section protecting structure;

the seat section protecting structure;

covers lateral sides and an upper side of the seat;

has a single opening on a front side of the seat, allowing the passenger to get on/off; and

is supported on the chassis frame so that the seat section protecting structure can swivel horizontally together with the seat; and

the seat section protecting structure includes a steering handle, wherein the steering handle is supported at a bottom end portion thereof so that the steering handle can pivot about a generally vertical axis of a steering post attached at a center of the seat section protecting structure in a left-right direction under the seat;

diverges from the steering post sideways left and right, extending upward between an outer side of the seat and left and right inner walls of the seat section protecting structure along the inner walls; and

includes a handle grip provided on an upper end portion thereof.

25. A compact vehicle comprising:

a chassis frame supporting a front wheel, a rear wheel, a driving device for driving the front wheel or the rear wheel, and a steering device for steering the front wheel or the rear wheel;

a passenger compartment arranged generally at a center of the chassis frame; and

a single passenger seat in a width direction of the vehicle, the passenger seat being arranged in the passenger compartment, wherein a passenger protecting structure is formed by an outer shell of the passenger compartment and a sub-frame;

the passenger protecting structure includes a seat section protecting structure;

the seat section protecting structure;

covers lateral sides and an upper side of the seat;

has a single opening on a front side of the seat, allowing the passenger to get on/off; and

is supported on the chassis frame so that the seat section protecting structure can swivel horizontally together with the seat;

the seat section protecting structure includes a rear seat on a rear side of the seat;

the rear seat is arranged to be offset to one of a left side and a right side with respect to a center of the vehicle as viewed from above; and

a front direction of the rear seat is oriented in a diagonal forward direction inclined to the other side.

26. The compact vehicle according to claim 25, wherein the seat located on a front side of the rear seat is supported so that the seat can move in a direction of the opening of the seat section protecting structure.

27. A compact vehicle comprising:

a chassis frame supporting a front wheel, a rear wheel, a driving device for driving the front wheel or the rear wheel, and a steering device for steering the front wheel or the rear wheel;

a passenger compartment arranged generally at a center of the chassis frame; and

a single passenger seat in a width direction of the vehicle, the passenger seat being arranged in the passenger compartment, wherein a passenger protecting structure is formed by an outer shell of the passenger compartment and a sub-frame;

the passenger protecting structure includes a seat section protecting structure;

the seat section protecting structure;

covers lateral sides and an upper side of the seat;

has a single opening on a front side of the seat, allowing the passenger to get on/off; and

is supported on the chassis frame so that the seat section protecting structure can swivel horizontally together with the seat;

a slope inclined upwardly away from a center of the vehicle is formed on a lower outer side of the passenger protecting structure;

battery protection cases for accommodating batteries for supplying power to the driving device are supported on the chassis frame via battery support members in left-right symmetry with respect to a longitudinal center line of the vehicle, the battery protection cases being located between an inner rear side of the front wheel and the passenger protecting structure or between an inner front side of the rear wheel and the passenger protecting structure, wherein the battery support members have an impact strength set to be lower than an impact strength of the battery protection cases;

a slope corresponding to a slope in a lower outer portion of the passenger protecting structure is formed on a surface of the battery protection case facing toward a center of the vehicle; and

when the vehicle undergoes a collision, the battery support member can deform and break, thereby allowing the battery protection case to move along the lower outer slope of the passenger protecting structure.

28. A compact vehicle comprising:

a chassis frame supporting a front wheel, a rear wheel, a driving device for driving the front wheel or the rear wheel, and a steering device for steering the front wheel or the rear wheel;

a passenger compartment arranged generally at a center of the chassis frame; and

a single passenger seat in a width direction of the vehicle, the passenger seat being arranged in the passenger compartment, wherein a passenger protecting structure is formed by an outer shell of the passenger compartment and a sub-frame;

the passenger protecting structure includes a seat section protecting structure;

the seat section protecting structure;

covers lateral sides and an upper side of the seat;

has a single opening on a front side of the seat, allowing the passenger to get on/off; and

is supported on the chassis frame so that the seat section protecting structure can swivel horizontally together with the seat; and

battery protection cases for accommodating batteries for supplying power to the driving device are supported on the chassis frame in a distributed manner in left-right symmetry, between an inner rear side of the front wheel and the passenger protecting structure or between an inner front side of the rear wheel and the passenger protecting structure, and

wherein the passenger protecting structure and at least a portion of the battery protection cases overlap with each other as viewed from above;

or

an outer profile of the front wheel or the rear wheel and at least a portion of the battery protection cases overlap with each other as viewed from side;

or

the passenger protecting structure and at least a portion of the battery protection cases overlap with each other as viewed from side.

29. A compact vehicle comprising:

a chassis frame supporting a front wheel, a rear wheel, a driving device for driving the front wheel or the rear wheel, and a steering device for steering the front wheel or the rear wheel;

a passenger compartment arranged generally at a center of the chassis frame; and

a single passenger seat in a width direction of the vehicle, the passenger seat being arranged in the passenger compartment, wherein a passenger protecting structure is formed by an outer shell of the passenger compartment and a sub-frame;

the passenger protecting structure includes a seat section protecting structure;

the seat section protecting structure;

covers lateral sides and an upper side of the seat;

has a single opening on a front side of the seat, allowing the passenger to get on/off; and

is supported on the chassis frame so that the seat section protecting structure can swivel horizontally together with the seat;

the seat section protecting structure includes a head protecting airbag to be deployed during a collision or a rollover;

the head protecting airbag is fixed to an inner side of the seat section protecting structure above an upper side and a lateral side of a head of the passenger seated in the single driver seat in the width direction of the vehicle;

when undeployed, the head protecting airbag is folded and accommodated in an airbag container along an inner wall of the seat section protecting structure while being close to the inner side of the seat section protecting structure; and

when deployed, the head protecting airbag is deployed into a semi-flattened dome-shaped so as to cover a front side and a lateral side of the head of the passenger while an upper end portion and left and right lateral end portions of the airbag remain fixed to the inner side of the seat section protecting structure.

30. A compact vehicle comprising:

a chassis frame supporting a front wheel, a rear wheel, a driving device for driving the front wheel or the rear wheel, and a steering device for steering the front wheel or the rear wheel;

a passenger compartment arranged generally at a center of the chassis frame; and

a single passenger seat in a width direction of the vehicle, the passenger seat being arranged in the passenger compartment, wherein a passenger protecting structure is formed by an outer shell of the passenger compartment and a sub-frame;

the passenger protecting structure includes a seat section protecting structure;

the seat section protecting structure;

covers lateral sides and an upper side of the seat;

has a single opening on a front side of the seat, allowing the passenger to get on/off; and

is supported on the chassis frame so that the seat section protecting structure can swivel horizontally together with the seat;

the seat section protecting structure includes a side airbag to be deployed during a collision or a rollover;

the side airbag is located on a side of the seat, and when undeployed, the side airbag is folded and accommodated between an inner side of an outer shell of the seat section protecting structure, which is formed in an arc shape bulging outwardly, and an interior cover while being close to the inner side of the outer shell; and

when deployed, the side airbag expands from the inner side of the outer shell of the seat section protecting structure toward a center of the passenger compartment while being close to the inner side of the outer shell.