Vehicle chassis having systems responsive to non-mechanical control signals

• US 6,830,117 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Shabana, Mohsen D., Chernoff, Adrian B., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E., Vitale, Robert Louis, Johnson, Tucker J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RESTIFO, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US10/206,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20030089536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.5, 180/402, 296/35.1, 296/35.3, 296/204, 701/1, 701/22, 701/37, 701/41, 701/70, 439/34, 439/35
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/14 having dampers accumulating utilisable energy, e.g. compressing air fluid springs with an accumulator B60G11/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/10 Independent suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/18 Multilink suspensions, e.g. elastokinematic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/44 steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/462 Toe-in/out
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/40 Type of actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/10 Mounting of suspension elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/11 Mounting of sensors thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/14 Mounting of suspension arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/16 Mounting of vehicle body on chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/20 Mounting of accessories, e.g. pump, compressor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/202 of cables
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/011 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0114 Independent suspensions on subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/50 : Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/99 : Suspension element selection procedure depending on loading or performance requirements, e.g. selection of damper, spring or bush
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 : Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/50 : Electric vehicles; Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/60 : Vehicles using regenerative power
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/21 : Traction, slip, skid or slide control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/802 : Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/90 : System Controller type
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 : Suspension Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/92 : ABS - Brake Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/963 : Steer-by-wire
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/18 : with two or more pivoted arms, e.g. parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/003 : of adjustable length
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/004 : for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 : Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• 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 15/07 : of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/001 : one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 : the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 : the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 : for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 : rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 : Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/065 : employing disc B60T1/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 : by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 : Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 : characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/74 : with electrical assistance or drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/82 : Brake-by-Wire, EHB
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/00 : Brake-action initiating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 : by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/00 : Arrangements for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions, e.g. limiting or varying distribution of braking force by changing number of effective brake cylinders in power brake systems B60T17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 : including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 : including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/28 : including control of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 : Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 : Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 : Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• 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 5/00 : Power-assisted or power-driven steering for non-deflectable wheels B62D11/00; fluid-pressure servomotors in general F15B
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/18 : Steering knuckles; King pins
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

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 configured for releasable engagement with a variety of different types or styles of vehicle bodies. Various prior art mechanical control linkages between a driver and controlled systems are replaced with non-mechanical control signal transmission components. Fuel cell technology is also implemented.

Claims

1. A vehicle chassis comprising at least three wheels;

a by-wire steering system operably connected to at least one wheel;

a by-wire braking system operably connected to at least one wheel;

a by-wire energy conversion system operably connected to at least one wheel; and

a body-attachment interface comprising a plurality of body connection components engageable with complementary components on a vehicle body, the body connection components including at least one load-bearing body-retention coupling and at least one control signal receiver connector;

wherein each of the steering system, braking system, and energy conversion system are operably connected to the control signal receiver connector; and

wherein said at least one load-bearing body retention coupling is configured for releasable engagement with a complementary attachment coupling, and said at least one control signal receiver connector is configured for releasable engagement with at least one complementary connector.

2. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the body connection components have a predetermined spatial relationship relative to one another and are sufficiently positioned, exposed and unobstructed such that when a vehicle body having at least one complementary attachment coupling and at least one complementary connector in the same predetermined spatial relationship relative to one another as the body connection components is sufficiently positioned with respect to the vehicle chassis, at least one load-bearing body retention coupling is adjacent to a complementary attachment coupling, and at least one control signal receiver connector is adjacent to a complementary connector.

3. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage system operably connected to the energy storage system and configured to store hydrogen fuel.

4. The vehicle chassis of claim 3, wherein the energy storage system includes at least one compressed gas cylinder storage tank.

5. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the energy conversion system further includes a plurality of wheel hub motors, each wheel hub motor operably connected to a wheel.

6. The vehicle chassis of claim 5, wherein the load-bearing body-retention couplings comprise brackets with bolt holes.

7. A vehicle chassis comprising:

a structural frame;

a suspension system mounted with respect to the structural frame;

at least three wheels rotatably mounted with respect to the suspension system;

a by-wire braking system mounted with respect to the structural frame, operably connected to at least one wheel;

a steering system mounted with respect to the structural frame, operably connected to at least one wheel;

an energy conversion system controllable by wire, mounted with respect to the structural frame, operably connected to at least one wheel;

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

a body-attachment interface having body connection components including at least one load-bearing body-retention coupling mounted with respect to the structural frame, and at least one control signal receiver connector;

wherein the braking system and energy conversion system are operably connected to a control signal receiver connector, and

wherein said at least one load-bearing body-retention coupling is configured for releasable engagement with a complementary attachment coupling on an attached body and the at least one control signal receiver connector is configured for releasable engagement with a complementary connector on an attached body.

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

9. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, wherein the steering system is controllable by wire and operably connected to a control signal receiver connector.

10. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, wherein said at least one control signal receiver connector comprises an electrical connector.

11. The vehicle chassis of claim 10, wherein the body connection components include no more than four control signal receiver connectors.

12. The vehicle chassis of claim 10, wherein the body connection components include no more than one control signal receiver connector.

13. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, wherein the energy conversion system is configured to produce electrical energy;

and wherein the body connection components further include at least one electrical power connector configured for releasable engagement with a complementary connector and operably connected to the energy conversion system and configured to convey the electrical energy.

14. The vehicle chassis of claim 13, wherein the body connection components include no more than one electrical power connector.

15. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, wherein the energy storage system is configured to produce electrical energy;

and wherein the body connection components further include at least one electrical power connector configured for releasable engagement with a complementary connector and operably connected to the energy storage system and configured to convey the electrical energy.

16. The vehicle chassis of claim 15, wherein the body connection components include no more than one electrical power connector.

17. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, further comprising at least one sensor configured to transmit sensor signals, operably attached to at least one wheel, the steering system, the braking system, the suspension system, the energy conversion system, or the energy storage system;

and wherein said at least one control signal receiver connector is operably connected to at least one sensor and configured to convey the sensor signals.

18. The vehicle chassis of claim 17, wherein the body connection components include no more than one electrical connector configured to convey the sensor signals.

19. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, wherein the steering system and braking system are configured to produce feedback signals and transmit the feedback signals to a control signal receiver connector.

20. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, wherein the body connection components are in a predetermined spatial relationship with one another, and sufficiently positioned, arranged, and unobstructed such that when a vehicle body having complementary components in the same predetermined spatial relationship as the body connection components is sufficiently positioned relative to the body attachment interface, each of the body connection components is adjacent to a complementary component.

21. The vehicle chassis of claim 20, wherein the suspension system is electronically controlled.

22. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, wherein the steering system is controllable by wire and connected to a control signal receiver connector, and wherein the body connection components are in a predetermined spatial relationship with one another, and sufficiently positioned, arranged, and unobstructed such that when a vehicle body having complementary components in the same predetermined spatial relationship as the body connection components is sufficiently positioned relative to the body-attachment interface,

at least one load-bearing body retention coupling is adjacent to a complementary component, and

a control signal receiver connector to which the steering system is operably connected, a control signal receiver connector to which the braking system is operably connected, and a control signal receiver connector to which the energy conversion system is operably connected are each adjacent to a complementary component.

23. The vehicle chassis of claim 22, wherein the suspension system is electronically controlled.

24. A vehicle chassis comprising:

a structural frame;

a suspension system mounted with respect to the structural frame;

at least three wheels rotatably mounted with respect to the suspension system;

a by-wire braking system mounted with respect to the structural frame and operably connected to at least one wheel;

a by-wire steering system mounted with respect to the structural frame and operably connected to at least one wheel;

an energy conversion system controllable by wire, mounted with respect to the structural frame and operably connected to at least one wheel;

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

at least one sensor operably connected to a wheel, the suspension system, the steering system, the braking system, the energy conversion system, or the energy storage system; and

a body-attachment interface having body connection components including at least one load-bearing body-retention coupling mounted with respect to the structural frame and configured for releasable engagement with a complementary attachment coupling, and at least one electrical connector configured for releasable engagement with a complementary electrical connector;

wherein each of the steering system, braking system, and energy conversion system is operably connected to an electrical connector of the body-attachment interface and configured to receive control signals transmitted thereby;

wherein the at least one sensor is operably connected to an electrical connector of the body attachment interface and configured to transmit sensor signals thereto, and

wherein the energy conversion system or the energy storage system is configured to generate electrical energy and transmit the electrical energy to an electrical connector.

25. The vehicle chassis of claim 24, wherein the energy conversion system includes a fuel cell.

26. The vehicle chassis of claim 24, wherein the body connection components include no more than three electrical connectors.

27. The vehicle chassis of claim 24, wherein the body connection components include no more than two electrical connectors.

28. The vehicle chassis of claim 24, wherein the body connection components include no more than one electrical connector.

29. The vehicle chassis of claim 28, wherein the energy conversion system includes a fuel cell.

30. The vehicle chassis of claim 28, wherein the suspension system is electronically controlled.

31. The vehicle chassis of claim 30, wherein the energy conversion system include, a fuel cell.

32. The vehicle chassis of claim 24, wherein the body connection components have a predetermined spatial relationship relative to one another and are sufficiently exposed, positioned, and unobstructed such that when a vehicle having complementary components in the same predetermined spatial relationship as the body connection components is sufficiently positioned relative to the body attachment interface, each body connection component is adjacent to a complementary component.

33. The vehicle chassis of claim 24, wherein the body connection components have a predetermined spatial relationship relative to one another and are sufficiently exposed, positioned, and unobstructed such that when a vehicle having complementary components in the same predetermined spatial relationship as the body connection components is sufficiently positioned relative to the body attachment interface, an electrical connector to which the braking system is connected, an electrical connector to which the steering system is connected, an electrical connector to which the energy conversion system is connected and through which it receives control signals are each adjacent to a complementary component.

34. The vehicle chassis of claim 33, wherein the steering system or the braking system is configured to generate feedback signals and transmit the feedback signals to an electrical connector.