Modular vehicle and associated method of construction

• US 8,342,279 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Florus, Howard C., Hall, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIGGS, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US12/563,642
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.2, 180/68.5, 180/65.235, 180/65.31, 180/65.21, 180/65.22, 180/165
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/17 forming fluid or electrical conduit means or having other means to accommodate the transmission of a force or signal
• 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: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A modular vehicle and an associated method of constructing a modular vehicle are provided. A modular vehicle includes a chassis and a plurality of docking fixtures carried by the chassis. The docking fixtures may include an electrical power connection and optionally a fluid connection. The docking fixtures may provide for data communications via data communication connections or via the electrical power connections. The modular vehicle may also include a plurality of modules removably connected to respective ones of the docking fixtures. The plurality of modules may include at least one of an energy supply module an energy storage module or a cooling module. At least one module may include an electrical power connection coupled to the electrical power connection of a docking fixture and optionally a fluid connection coupled to the fluid connection of a docking fixture. At least one module may also provide for data communications with a docking fixture.

Claims

1. A modular vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a plurality of docking fixtures carried by the chassis, wherein at least one of the docking fixtures comprises an electrical power connection and is configured to provide for data communications, and wherein at least one of the docking fixtures further comprises a fluid connection;

a plurality of modules removably connected to respective ones of the docking fixtures, wherein the plurality of modules comprise at least one of an energy supply module or an energy storage module, wherein the plurality of modules further comprise a cooling module having a fluid connection coupled to the fluid connection of a respective docking fixture, wherein at least one of the modules comprises an electrical power connection coupled to the electrical power connection of at least one docking fixture, and wherein the at least one of the modules is configured to provide for data communications with the respective docking fixture; and

a guide mechanism for facilitating a removable and aligned connection of the docking fixture and the module.

2. A modular vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of docking fixtures and the plurality of modules are configured to share a common fluid therebetween.

3. A modular vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the at least one docking fixture further comprises a data communication connection, and wherein the at least one of the modules further comprises a data communication connection coupled to the data communication connection of the at least one docking fixture.

4. A modular vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the at least one docking fixture and the at least one module are configured to provide for data communication via the respective electrical power connections.

5. A modular vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of modules further comprise at least one of a crew compartment load or a power consumption load.

6. A modular vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a plurality of docking fixtures carried by the chassis with each docking fixture comprising an electrical power connection and a fluid connection and being configured to provide for data communications;

an energy supply module connected to a respective docking fixture, the energy supply module comprising an electrical power connection coupled to the electrical power connection of the respective docking fixture and being configured to provide for data communications with the respective docking fixture;

an energy storage module connected to a respective docking fixture, the energy storage module comprising an electrical power connection coupled to the electrical power module of the respective docking fixture and configured to provide for data communications with the respective docking fixture; and

a cooling module connected to a respective docking fixture, the cooling module comprising a fluid connection coupled to the fluid connection of the respective docking fixture.

7. A modular vehicle according to claim 6 wherein at least one of the docking fixtures, energy supply module, energy storage module or cooling module further comprises a guide mechanism for facilitating a removable and aligned connection of the docking fixture and a respective module.

8. A modular vehicle according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of docking fixtures, the energy supply module and the cooling module are configured to share a common fluid therebetween.

9. A modular vehicle according to claim 6 wherein each docking fixture further comprises a data communication connection, and wherein the energy supply module and the energy storage module further comprise a data communication connection coupled to the data communication connection of the respective docking fixture.

10. A modular vehicle according to claim 6 wherein each docking fixture and the energy storage and energy supply modules are configured to provide for data communication via the respective electrical power connections.

11. A modular vehicle according to claim 6 further comprising at least one of a crew compartment load or an external power consumption load.