Vehicle chassis assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle chassis assembly comprising:
- a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a rotational axis;
a frame assembly supported by the wheels, wherein a portion of the frame assembly is located below the rotational axis of at least one of the wheels, the frame assembly comprising a plurality of frame members defining a first frame portion and a rear frame portion angling upward with respect to the first frame portion,wherein the entire rear frame portion is located rearward of all of the plurality of wheels, and the rear frame portion extends upward and rearward from the first frame portion in a cantilever arrangement, and wherein the rear frame portion comprises a first angling frame member and a second angling frame member extending from the first frame portion to a back edge of the chassis assembly in a direction oblique to a centerline of the chassis assembly; and
an exhaust pipe extending longitudinally through the first angling frame member.
17 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle chassis assembly includes a frame assembly having a plurality of frame members connected together, a drivetrain, a suspension system, and an exhaust system. The connection of the frame members provides a low-profile configuration for reduced step height and a kick-up portion to allow ascent of steeper inclines. The frame further includes an exhaust pipe supported within a frame member and two castings bolted to removable wheel arches. The exhaust pipe has a circular cross-section that changes to a rectangular cross-section near the back of the chassis assembly.
67 Citations
46 Claims
-
1. A vehicle chassis assembly comprising:
-
a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a rotational axis; a frame assembly supported by the wheels, wherein a portion of the frame assembly is located below the rotational axis of at least one of the wheels, the frame assembly comprising a plurality of frame members defining a first frame portion and a rear frame portion angling upward with respect to the first frame portion, wherein the entire rear frame portion is located rearward of all of the plurality of wheels, and the rear frame portion extends upward and rearward from the first frame portion in a cantilever arrangement, and wherein the rear frame portion comprises a first angling frame member and a second angling frame member extending from the first frame portion to a back edge of the chassis assembly in a direction oblique to a centerline of the chassis assembly; and an exhaust pipe extending longitudinally through the first angling frame member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A vehicle chassis assembly having a front end and a back end, comprising
a first frame portion having a front frame portion and a middle frame portion connected to the front frame portion and having a top surface; - and
a rear frame portion connected to and extending from the middle frame portion and angling upward with respect to the middle frame portion, the rear frame portion comprising a first angling portion extending rearward from the middle frame portion and angling upward with respect to the middle frame portion at a first angle, and a second angling portion extending rearward from the first angling portion to a rear end of the chassis assembly, the second angling portion angling upward with respect to the middle frame portion at a second angle, the second angle being different from the first angle. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
- and
-
30. A vehicle chassis assembly comprising:
-
a frame assembly comprising a plurality of frame members, including a rectangular frame member having a substantially rectangular cross-section and a substantially rectangular, longitudinal inner cavity therein; and an exhaust pipe supported within the frame members, the exhaust pipe having a rectangular portion having a substantially rectangular cross-section, the rectangular portion of the exhaust pipe dimensioned similar to the inner cavity of the rectangular frame member, wherein the rectangular portion of the exhaust pipe extends longitudinally through the inner cavity of the rectangular frame member. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. A vehicle chassis assembly comprising:
a frame assembly comprising; an elevated front frame portion comprising a plurality of frame members defining a platform, the front frame portion being supported by a pair of front wheels having a first rotational axis; a middle frame portion comprising a plurality of frame members arranged in a grid structure having a top surface, the middle frame portion having a removable wheel arch, a casting connected to the wheel arch and one of the frame members, and a center frame member having an open bottom, the middle frame portion being supported by a pair of rear wheels having a second rotational axis, the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis being located above the top surface; a neck portion connecting the front frame portion and the middle frame portion, the neck portion comprising a goose-neck connection; a rear frame portion connected to the middle frame portion and angling upward with respect to the middle frame portion, the rear frame portion including a rectangular frame member having a substantially rectangular cross-section; and an exhaust pipe comprising a first portion having a substantially circular cross-section, the first portion of the exhaust pipe supported within the center frame member, and a second portion having a substantially rectangular cross-section, the second portion of the exhaust pipe dimensioned to fit within the rectangular frame member.
-
39. A vehicle chassis assembly comprising:
-
a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a rotational axis; a frame assembly supported by the wheels, wherein a portion of the frame assembly is located below the rotational axis of at least one of the wheels, the frame assembly comprising a plurality of frame members defining a first frame portion and a rear frame portion angling upward with respect to the first frame portion, the frame assembly further comprising a first angling frame member and a second angling frame member extending to a back edge of the chassis assembly in a direction oblique to a centerline of the chassis assembly; and an exhaust pipe extending longitudinally through the first angling frame member. - View Dependent Claims (40)
-
-
41. A vehicle chassis assembly comprising:
-
a frame assembly comprising a plurality of frame members, including a rectangular frame member having a substantially rectangular cross-section; and an exhaust pipe supported within the frame members, the exhaust pipe having a rectangular portion having a substantially rectangular cross-section, the rectangular portion of the exhaust pipe dimensioned to fit within the rectangular frame member, wherein the rectangular frame member has a distal end and the exhaust pipe has a distal end that extends through the distal end of the rectangular frame member. - View Dependent Claims (42)
-
-
43. A vehicle chassis assembly comprising:
-
a frame assembly comprising a plurality of frame members; and an exhaust pipe supported within the frame assembly, the exhaust pipe having a first portion supported within a first frame member of the frame assembly and extending longitudinally through the first frame member, and a second portion supported within a second frame member of the frame assembly and extending longitudinally through the second frame member, wherein the first frame member and the first portion of the exhaust pipe extend parallel to a centerline of the frame assembly and the second frame member and the second portion of the exhaust pipe are angled with respect to the centerline of the frame assembly. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
-
-
46. A vehicle chassis assembly comprising:
-
a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a rotational axis; and a frame assembly supported by the wheels, wherein a portion of the frame assembly is located below the rotational axis of at least one of the wheels, the frame assembly comprising a plurality of frame members defining a first frame portion and a rear frame portion angling upward with respect to the first frame portion, wherein one of the frame members has an open bottom and contains an exhaust pipe supported within the frame member and extending longitudinally through the frame member, wherein the entire rear frame portion is located rearward of all of the plurality of wheels, and the rear frame portion extends upward and rearward from the first frame portion in a cantilever arrangement.
-
Specification