Electric vehicle with a movable battery tray mounted between frame rails

• US 6,260,645 B1
• Filed: 04/22/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Newgeon, Walter W., Spezia, Gerald P., Pawlowski, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAR, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US09/298,078
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.5, 180/65.1, 180/65.3, 180/65.5, 180/65.6, 310/36, 322/3
• US Class Current: 180/65.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/04 arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/023 the mechanical spring being a leaf spring B60G17/0275 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/1322 with a wishbone or triangular arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/112 longitudinally arranged
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/12 Wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/20 Type of damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/129 Damper mount on wheel suspension or knuckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/148 on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4502 using resilient buffer
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/50 Electric vehicles; Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/60 Vehicles using regenerative power
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/203 lowering the floor for loading/unloading
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/14 the arm being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/00 Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof means for maintaining substantially constant wheel camber during suspension movement B60G3/26; articulations for wheels B60G5/00; leaf spring attaching means B60G11/10, B60G11/12; trailing arm twist beam axle attaching means B60G21/052; articulations in general F16C
• 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: B62D 21/11 with resilient means for suspension , e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions

Abstract

A land vehicle having wholly independent multiple suspension units with integral propulsion systems. The independent suspension unit includes a self-contained return spring, dampener, motor-wheel drive mechanism with attached brake-mechanism, and rotary and linear regenerative devices. The independent suspension system does not require or use an axle. The axleless suspension is mounted to a frame rail of the vehicle, which may be formed generally straight, as there is no axle to accommodate. The vehicle frame includes side rails between which a compartment, such as a battery compartment, may be placed. The frame rails include rollers which facilitate insertion and removal of the compartment between the frame rails. The frame rails also may be formed to enable the passage of conduits, such as fluid transfer or temperature control lines, for routing fluids between the battery compartment and a thermal management system.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle comprising:

a frame formed of upper and lower transverse members and horizontally opposed, longitudinal members with respect to the vehicle;

a battery tray disposed between the longitudinal and transverse members for supporting a bank of batteries for providing electric energy for operating the electric vehicle;

a friction reducing device formed in the longitudinal members for supporting the battery tray between the longitudinal members, wherein the battery tray may be displaced longitudinally over the friction reducing device to facilitate access to the bank of batteries, wherein the longitudinal members are arranged so as to not obstruct displacement of the tray;

a suspension bracket attached to the frame;

a suspension arm coupled to the suspension bracket through an annular suspension pivot bearing allowing relative rotation between the suspension arm and suspension bracket, said annular suspension pivot bearing containing a regenerative device which generates an electrical energy output across a positive electrical terminal and a negative electrical terminal in response to relative rotation between the suspension arm and suspension bracket, the electrical energy being used to supplement electric energy of the bank of batteries;

a motor housing integral to the suspension arm, the motor housing receiving an electric motor that applies displacing force to a drive wheel;

a hydraulic brake mechanism mounted outboard of the motor housing.

2. The electric vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a load floor disposed upon and supported by the members.

3. The electric vehicle of claim 2 wherein the battery tray is disposed beneath the load floor.

4. The electric vehicle of claim 3 wherein the friction reducing device is arranged on the longitudinal members to maintain the battery tray generally parallel to the longitudinal members.

5. The electric vehicle of claim 4 further comprising a support member disposed on the friction reducing device, the support member supporting the battery tray.

6. The electric vehicle of claim 5 wherein the battery tray may be displaced to a position beyond ends of the opposing members.