Method of designing and manufacturing vehicles

• US 7,000,318 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Shabana, Mohsen D., Chernoff, Adrian B., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E., Vitale, Robert Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cozart, Jermie E.
• Application Number:
  US10/202,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 298/972, 294/28, 294/30, 294/69, 297/91, 294/011, 296/181.1, 296/190.04, 296/193.04, 296/203.01, 296/35.3, 296/509, 180/291, 180/65.1
• US Class Current: 29/897.2
• 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: 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 2270/40 : related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• 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 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 63/025 : Modular vehicles superstructures for busses having modular sections B62D31/025
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/04 : Joining preassembled modular units composed of sub-units performing diverse functions, e.g. engine and bonnet B62D65/06 - B62D65/16 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 : Vehicular structural member making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 : Converting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49904 : Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly

Abstract

An accelerated vehicle development process includes establishing a common, standardized interface system whereby different types of vehicle bodies may be attached to a single chassis design. Chassis and bodies are designed, manufactured and validated independently of each other in accordance with the standardized interface system, thereby accelerating the development process. As new bodies are designed to mate with the previously manufactured and validated chassis, the newly designed bodies may be developed more quickly in response to market demand and attached to the previously validated chassis.

Claims

1. A method of designing and manufacturing vehicles comprising:

establishing a standard vehicle chassis design including a structural frame;

a suspension system mounted to the structural frame;

at least three wheels rotatably mounted to the suspension system;

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

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

a computer operatively connected to the energy conversion system and braking system, wherein said standard vehicle chassis design includes a common, standardized interface system having body connection components arranged to facilitate selective attachment of any of a plurality of different body types to the standard chassis;

manufacturing a plurality of chassis in accordance with said standard vehicle chassis design, independently of vehicle bodies; and

after said step of manufacturing a plurality of chassis, designing and manufacturing a plurality of different bodies having different body types and configured to conform to said standardized interface system for attachment to said manufactured chassis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said different body types are of at least two body categories taken from the group consisting of sedans, pickup trucks, convertibles, coupes, vans, station wagons, sport-utility vehicles, and other types of transports.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said step of designing and manufacturing a plurality of bodies, attaching the said manufactured bodies to manufactured chassis.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, after said attaching step, designing and manufacturing additional bodies having body types different from said attached bodies and configured to conform to said standardized interface system for selective attachment to said manufactured chassis.

5. A method of designing and manufacturing vehicles comprising:

predefining a vehicle body-chassis interface system wherein mechanical and electrical connection components are required to be in predetermined spatial positions relative to each other in a body-attachment interface on a chassis and in corresponding predetermined spatial positions relative to each other in a corresponding chassis-attachment interface on any body to be attached to the chassis;

manufacturing vehicle chassis conforming to said predefined vehicle body-chassis interface system,

said vehicle chassis each including 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, an energy conversion system mounted with respect to the structural frame, operably connected to at least one wheel, and controllable by wire, and a by-wire braking system mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to at least one wheel; and

after said step of manufacturing chassis, designing and manufacturing vehicle bodies conforming to said standardized interface system for attachment to said manufactured chassis, said bodies including at least three different body styles.

6. A method of designing and manufacturing vehicles comprising:

establishing a standard vehicle chassis design including a structural frame;

a suspension system mounted to the structural frame;

at least three wheels ratatably mounted to the suspension system;

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

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

a computer operatively connected to the energy conversion system and braking system, wherein said standard vehicle chassis design includes a common, standardized interface system having body connection components arranged to facilitate selective attachment of any of a plurality of different body types to the standard chassis;

manufacturing a plurality of chassis in accordance with said standard vehicle chassis design, independently of vehicle bodies; and

after said step of manufacturing a plurality of chassis, designing and manufacturing a plurality of different bodies having different body types and configured to conform to said standardized interface system for attachment to said manufactured chassis, wherein said different body types include at least three types of bodies taken from the group consisting of sedans, pick-up trucks, convertibles, coupes, vans, station wagons and sport-utility vehicles.