Mobile chassis and interchangeable vehicle body with waste heat rejection system

• US 7,083,016 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• 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 (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Shabana, Mohsen D., Chernoff, Adrian B., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E., Vitale, Robert Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US10/206,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20030116374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 454 69- 73, 454143-148
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• 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 1/003 : to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 : Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 : Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 : Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 : by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 : by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 : Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 : with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/71 : Arrangement of fuel cells within vehicles specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/72 : Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 : by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 : by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 : for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 : for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• 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 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 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A mobile chassis for vehicle body interchangeability has a waste heat rejection system packaged in a rolling platform. The system is connected to a powertrain cooling loop for waste heat circulation. The cooling loop includes cooling fin heat exchangers on the sides of the rolling platform and another heat exchanger in the HVAC system for utilizing otherwise waste heat in the air conditioning of each vehicle body being interchanged.

Claims

1. In combination, a mobile chassis and a vehicle body interchangeable therewith, the combination comprising:

a frame in the mobile chassis having a plurality of spaced-apart structural members interconnected in a manner to define a plurality of packaging spaces and an external interface;

a controllable, waste-heat-producing propulsion system at least partially in at least one of the packaging spaces and controllable by wire and including a disconnectable connector in the external interface operable to disconnect the controllability of the mobile chassis by wire; and

a waste heat rejection system including a first heat exchanger at least partially in at least another of the packaging spaces and a second heat exchanger in coolant flow communication with the first heat exchanger, and the waste heat rejection system including an unobstructed disconnectable fluid coupling in the external interface connectable with the vehicle body to effect fluid flow communication between the vehicle body and the heat exchangers to reject waste heat in both the mobile chassis and the vehicle body.

2. The chassis/vehicle body combination of claim 1 wherein the vehicle body is without a propulsion system whereby to create a void and the second heat exchanger is in the void.

3. The chassis/vehicle body combination of claim 2 wherein the vehicle has a hood at least partially defining the void and the second heat exchanger is in fixed relationship to the hood.

4. The chassis/vehicle body combination of claim 2 including a third heat exchanger in coolant flow communication with the second heat exchanger to create a substantially greater surface area for heat rejection.

5. The chassis/vehicle body combination of claim 2, wherein the vehicle body has a hood at least partially defining the void and the second heat exchanger is in fixed relationship to the hood.

6. The chassis/vehicle body combination of claim 1 wherein one of the heat exchangers is at least partially outside the frame longitudinally along a mid portion of the chassis.

7. A vehicle chassis characterized by a novel waste heat rejection system, comprising:

a frame defining a plurality of open spaces;

a suspension system including at least three wheels;

a steering system having steering components mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to at least one wheel;

an energy conversion system having energy conversion system components, mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to at least one wheel;

a waste heat rejection system having waste heat rejection system components in heat exchange relationship to the energy conversion system;

a braking system having braking components, mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to at least one wheel;

a plurality of body-connection components mounted with respect to the frame, including a plurality of body-retention couplings and a control signal receiver connector;

wherein the control signal receiver connector is operably connected to the waste heat rejection system and the energy conversion system;

wherein the steering components, energy conversion system components, waste heat rejection system components, braking components, body connection components, and control signal receiver connectors are mounted sufficiently within the open spaces so that no component or connector protrudes significantly outside of the frame.

8. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, wherein the waste heat rejection system components include a plurality of heat exchanger panels.

9. The vehicle chassis of claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger panels are nested to one another.

10. The vehicle chassis of claim 9, wherein the heat exchanger panels are arranged transversely relative to the vehicle chassis.

11. The vehicle chassis of claim 9, wherein the chassis supports a vehicle body having a hood and the heat exchanger panels are arranged inside the hood.

12. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, wherein the waste heat rejection system includes a cooling loop and a heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with the energy conversion system, the cooling loop being operably connected to the heat exchanger;

and wherein the body-attachment couplings include an air flow coupling in heat exchange relationship to the heat exchanger.

13. The vehicle chassis of claim 7, wherein the open spaces of the frame are sufficiently enclosed to form an air duct including an inlet air scoop and an outlet air scoop sufficiently positioned with respect to the air duct to cause waste heat to be rejected from components in the open spaces.

14. A vehicle body defining a passenger compartment, the vehicle body comprising:

a floor;

at least one person-supporting seating apparatus in the passenger compartment and mounted with respect to the floor;

at least one heat exchanger mounted with respect to the floor and in heat exchange relationship with the passenger compartment; and

at least one chassis-attachment coupling mounted with respect to the floor and including an air flow coupling operably connected to the heat exchanger.