Vehicle body platform

• US 6,845,839 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• 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 (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Ryntz, Edward Frank, Shabana, Mohsen D., Chernoff, Adrian B., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E., Vitale, Robert Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US10/207,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20030038509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 296/193.07, 296/35.3, 296/187.08, 296/35.01, 296/208, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 280/785
• US Class Current: 180/291
• 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: 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: 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 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 matability 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. A quick plastic formed (QPF) engineered body floorpan includes formations thereon to provide structural integrity to support body components and acts as an assembly aid. The body floorpan is formed from a single aluminum alloy sheet.

Claims

1. A vehicle floor comprising:

a one-piece structural sheet metal floorpan having formations configured to provide structural rigidity and attachment elements configured to engage a plurality of body components; and

a plurality of body connection components on the floorpan, including a plurality of complementary attachment couplings engageable with load-bearing body-retention couplings on a vehicle chassis;

wherein the body connection components further include at least one complementary electrical connector engageable with an electrical connector on a vehicle chassis.

2. The vehicle floor of claim 1, wherein the floorpan is manufactured using quick plastic forming or super plastic forming.

3. The vehicle floor of claim 1, wherein the floorpan is manufactured in accordance with a standardized interface system in which the connection components have a predetermined spatial relationship relative to each other that is arranged to enable attachment of a variety of different types of bodies thereto wherein the bodies comply with the same standardized interface system.

4. A method of manufacturing a vehicle comprising:

designing and manufacturing a vehicle body configured to comply with a common, standardized interface system for attaching vehicle bodies to vehicle chassis wherein connection components are arranged in a predetermined spatial relationship on bodies and chassis to facilitate selective attachment of any of a plurality of different body types to the chassis without modification of the respective bodies or chassis;

wherein the body includes a floorpan having formations configured to provide structural rigidity, wherein some of said connection components are on said floorpan, including at least one complementary electrical connector on said floorpan and configured for engagement with one of said connection components on said chassis.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising manufacturing the floorpan using quick plastic forming or super plastic forming.

6. A vehicle body, comprising:

a floor comprised of a one-piece structural sheet member;

at least one passenger seating apparatus mounted to the floor;

at least one chassis-attachment coupling element mounted to the floor; and

at least one control signal transmitter coupling mounted to the floor and configured for engagement with a complementary control signal transmitter coupling mounted on a chassis.

7. The vehicle body of claim 6, wherein the one-piece structural sheet member is formed from a single sheet of metal.

8. The vehicle body of claim 6, wherein the one-piece structural sheet member is formed using a superplastic forming process or a quick plastic forming process.

9. The vehicle body of claim 8, wherein the floor of the vehicle partially defines a chassis-attachment interface.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a body including a floor comprised of a one-piece structural sheet member;

at least one passenger seating apparatus mounted to the floor;

at least one chassis-attachment coupling element mounted to the floor; and

at least one control signal transmitter coupling mounted to the floor;

a vehicle chassis including a one-piece rigid sheet having formations defining a plurality of cavities;

a complementary control signal transmitter coupling mounted to said one-piece rigid sheet and configured for attachment with said at least one control signal transmitter coupling mounted to said floor;

at least three wheels mounted with respect to the rigid sheet;

an energy conversion system operably connected to at least one wheel;

an energy storage system operably connected to the energy conversion system;

a steering system operably connected to at least one wheel; and

a braking system operably connected to at least one wheel;

wherein the energy conversion system, energy storage system, steering system, and braking system are mounted with respect to the rigid sheet and each is at least partially located within respective ones of the plurality of cavities;

wherein the chassis is characterized by an upper chassis face;

wherein the body is characterized by a lower body face;

wherein the complementary control signal transmitter coupling is located at or above the upper chassis face or forms part of the upper chassis face; and

wherein the at least one control signal transmitter coupling is located at or below the lower body face or forms part of the lower body face; and

wherein the body is attached to the chassis.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the one-piece structural sheet member and rigid sheet are formed by quick plastic forming (QPF).

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the one-piece structural sheet member and rigid sheet are formed by super plastic forming (SPF).