Systems packaged within flat vehicle chassis

• US 6,986,401 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2002
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• 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: Shabana, Mohsen D., Chernoff, Adrian B., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E., Vitale, Robert Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): ELDRED, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US10/202,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20030038467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 280/781, 180/311, 180/65.1, 180/65.3
• US Class Current: 180/311
• 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: B62D 25/105 : for motor cars
• 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 includes a braking system, an energy conversion system, a steering system and a suspension system wherein each system is operably connected to at least one of a plurality of wheels. The systems are packaged substantially within a substantially flat vehicle frame to provide a substantially flat chassis. The flatness of the chassis increases available passenger space in any attached vehicle body and facilitates compatibility between the chassis and bodies of varying configurations.

Claims

1. A vehicle chassis comprising:

a structural frame having a thickness defined as the vertical distance between the lowest point on the frame and the highest point on the frame;

a body attachment interface having body connection components, the 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;

a suspension system mounted with respect to the structural frame;

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

a steering system operably connected to at least one wheel and to said at least one control signal receiver;

a braking system operably connected to at least one wheel and to said at least one control signal receiver; and

an energy conversion system operably connected to at least one wheel and to said at least one control signal receiver;

wherein each of the steering system, braking system, and energy conversion system is responsive to non-mechanical control signals; and

wherein the steering system, braking system, and energy conversion system are mounted with respect to the structural frame such that the highest point of any of the steering system, braking system and energy conversion system does not extend or protrude higher than the highest point of the structural frame by an amount more than approximately 150% of the structural frame thickness.

2. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage system, and wherein the highest point of the energy storage system does not extend or protrude higher than the highest point of the structural frame by an amount more than approximately 150% of the structural frame thickness.

3. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the highest point of any of the steering system, braking system and energy conversion system does not extend or protrude higher than the highest point of the structural frame by an amount more than approximately 100% of the structural frame thickness.

4. The vehicle chassis of claim 3, further comprising an energy storage system, and wherein the highest point of the energy storage system does not extend or protrude higher than the highest point of the structural frame by an amount more than approximately 100% of the structural frame thickness.

5. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the highest point of any of the steering system, braking system and energy conversion system does not extend or protrude higher than the highest point of the structural frame by an amount more than approximately 75% of the structural frame thickness.

6. The vehicle chassis of claim 5, further comprising an energy storage system, and wherein the highest point of the energy storage system does not extend or protrude higher than the highest point of the structural frame by an amount more than approximately 75% of the structural frame thickness.

7. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the highest point of any of the steering system, braking system and energy conversion system does not extend or protrude higher than the highest point of the structural frame by an amount more than approximately 50% of the structural frame thickness.

8. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, further comprising an energy storage system, and wherein the highest point of the energy storage system does not extend or protrude higher than the highest point of the structural frame by an amount more than approximately 50% of the structural frame thickness.

9. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the highest point of any of the steering system, braking system and energy conversion system does not extend or protrude higher than the highest point of the structural frame by an amount more than approximately 25% of the structural frame thickness.

10. The vehicle chassis of claim 9, further comprising an energy storage system, and wherein the highest point of the energy storage system does not extend or protrude higher than the highest point of the structural frame by an amount more than approximately 25% of the structural frame thickness.

11. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the highest point of the steering system, braking system, and energy conversion system does not extend or protrude higher than the structural frame'"'"'s highest point.

12. The vehicle chassis of claim 11, further comprising an energy storage system, and wherein the highest point of the energy storage system does not extend or protrude higher than the structural frame'"'"'s highest point.

13. A vehicle chassis comprising:

a structural frame;

a body attachment interface having body connection components, the 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;

a suspension system mounted with respect to the structural frame;

at least three wheels rotatably mounted with respect to the suspension system, each of the at least three wheels having a tire attached thereto;

a steering system operably connected to at least one wheel and to said at least one control signal receiver;

a braking system operably connected to at least one wheel and to said at least one control signal receiver; and

an energy conversion system operably connected to at least one wheel and to said at least one control signal receiver;

wherein each of the steering system, braking system, and energy conversion system is responsive to non-mechanical control signals; and

wherein no part of the energy conversion system, steering system, and braking system extends or protrudes higher than the top of any of the at least three wheels.

14. The vehicle chassis of claim 13, further comprising an energy storage system, and wherein no part of the energy storage system extends or protrudes higher than the top of any of the at least three wheels.

15. The vehicle chassis of claim 14, wherein each of the steering system, braking system, and energy conversion system are controllable by wire.

16. The vehicle chassis of claim 14, wherein the energy conversion system includes a fuel cell.

17. The vehicle chassis of claim 14, wherein the body connection components are releasably engageable with complementary components.

18. The vehicle chassis of claim 14, wherein the at least one control signal receiver comprises an electrical connector.

19. The vehicle chassis of claim 14, wherein the body-attachment interface is characterized by the absence of mechanical control linkages for the energy conversion system, steering system or braking system.

20. The vehicle chassis of claim 19, 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.

21. A vehicle chassis comprising:

a structural frame;

a body attachment interface having body connection components, the 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;

a suspension system mounted with respect to the structural frame;

at least three wheels rotatably mounted with respect to the suspension system, each of the at least three wheels having a tire attached thereto;

a steering system operably connected to at least one wheel and to said at least one control signal receiver;

a braking system operably connected to at least one wheel and to said at least one control signal receiver; and

an energy conversion system operably connected to at least one wheel and to said at least one control signal receiver;

wherein each of the steering system, braking system, and energy conversion system is responsive to non-mechanical control signals; and

wherein no part of the energy conversion system, steering system, and braking system extends or protrudes higher than the top of any of the tires.

22. The vehicle chassis of claim 21, further comprising an energy storage system, and wherein no part of the energy storage system extends or protrudes higher than the top of any of the tires.

23. The vehicle chassis of claim 22, wherein each of the steering system, braking system, and energy conversion system are controllable by wire.

24. The vehicle chassis of claim 22, wherein the energy conversion system includes a fuel cell.

25. The vehicle chassis of claim 22, wherein the body connection components are releasably engageable with complementary components.

26. The vehicle chassis of claim 22, wherein the at least one control signal receiver comprises an electrical connector.

27. The vehicle chassis of claim 22, wherein the body-attachment interface is characterized by the absence of mechanical control linkages for the energy conversion system, steering system or braking system.

28. The vehicle chassis of claim 27, 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.

29. The vehicle chassis of claim 27, wherein the body connection components are exposed at an upper face of the chassis.

30. The vehicle chassis of claim 27, wherein the body connection components are releasably engageable.