Modular electric vehicle system
First Claim
1. A modular electric vehicle comprising:
- a. an electrical power source;
b. at least two interchangeable vehicle assembly modules configured to attach together, each vehicle assembly module comprising;
i. two axial module surfaces at axial ends of the vehicle assembly module with an axis extending therethrough oriented in a direction of travel of the modular electric vehicle;
ii. at least one connecting module surface at an axial module surface thereof adapted to structurally attach to a connecting module surface of an adjacent vehicle assembly module;
iii. a central power bus for powering the vehicle assembly module, connectable to the central power bus of the adjacent vehicle assembly modules at adjoining axial module surfaces;
iv. at least one electrically powered axle connected to the central power bus;
v. a central network bus for facilitating control of the vehicle assembly module and the modular electric vehicle, connectable to the central network bus of adjacent vehicle assembly modules at adjoining axial module surfaces;
vi. a module controller connected to and configured to control the at least one electrically powered axle and connected to the central network bus for communication with module controllers of other vehicle assembly modules; and
vii. the at least one electrically powered axle connected to the central power bus and the central network bus;
c. wherein at least one powered vehicle assembly modules is steerable, by interaction of the module controller with the at least one powered axle thereof;
d. a vehicle controller connected to the central network bus configured to control movement and steering of the modular electric vehicle by interaction with module controllers on the powered vehicle assembly modules; and
e. an operator interface connected to the vehicle controller by which an operator can drive and steer the modular electric vehicle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular electric vehicle system, allowing for the assembly of many different vehicle configurations using a plurality of interchangeable vehicle assembly modules, including at least two powered vehicle assembly modules in an assembled vehicle each of which has self-contained drive and power systems and controls which can be connected together by a central network bus on the vehicle. At least one of the powered vehicle assembly modules will be a steering module, with the necessary additional controls and components to steer the axle thereon and in turn steer the assembled vehicle. The connection of the network bus and the modules would be done in an interchangeable way so that different modules could be interchangeably placed in the assembled vehicle. Various steering systems, control methodologies and vehicle attachments are also disclosed.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A modular electric vehicle comprising:
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a. an electrical power source; b. at least two interchangeable vehicle assembly modules configured to attach together, each vehicle assembly module comprising; i. two axial module surfaces at axial ends of the vehicle assembly module with an axis extending therethrough oriented in a direction of travel of the modular electric vehicle; ii. at least one connecting module surface at an axial module surface thereof adapted to structurally attach to a connecting module surface of an adjacent vehicle assembly module; iii. a central power bus for powering the vehicle assembly module, connectable to the central power bus of the adjacent vehicle assembly modules at adjoining axial module surfaces; iv. at least one electrically powered axle connected to the central power bus; v. a central network bus for facilitating control of the vehicle assembly module and the modular electric vehicle, connectable to the central network bus of adjacent vehicle assembly modules at adjoining axial module surfaces; vi. a module controller connected to and configured to control the at least one electrically powered axle and connected to the central network bus for communication with module controllers of other vehicle assembly modules; and vii. the at least one electrically powered axle connected to the central power bus and the central network bus; c. wherein at least one powered vehicle assembly modules is steerable, by interaction of the module controller with the at least one powered axle thereof; d. a vehicle controller connected to the central network bus configured to control movement and steering of the modular electric vehicle by interaction with module controllers on the powered vehicle assembly modules; and e. an operator interface connected to the vehicle controller by which an operator can drive and steer the modular electric vehicle. - 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, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A central control network for use on a modular electric vehicle comprising a plurality of interchangeable vehicle assembly modules, wherein:
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a. at least two of the interchangeable vehicle assembly modules are powered vehicle assembly modules comprising; i. two axial module surfaces at axial ends of the vehicle assembly module with an axis extending therethrough oriented in a direction of travel of the modular electric vehicle, and at least one connecting module surface at an axial module surface thereof configured for structural attachment to an adjoining connecting module surface of an adjacent vehicle assembly module; ii. an electrical power source; iii. a first central power bus connectable to a second central power bus of adjacent vehicle assembly modules at adjoining module surfaces, and connected to the electrical power source; iv. at least one electrically powered axle; and v. at least one of the vehicle assembly modules is steerable by interaction of a module controller with the at least one powered axle thereof; the central control network comprising; vi. a central network bus extending through each interchangeable vehicle assembly module and connectable at each connecting module surface to the central network bus extending through adjacent vehicle assembly modules; vii. a module controller within each vehicle assembly module, connected to the central network bus and the central power bus and configured to control power or steering components thereon; viii. a vehicle controller connected to the modular electric vehicle and the central network bus configured to control the modular electric vehicle by interaction with the module controllers on the vehicle assembly modules; and ix. an operator interface connected to the vehicle controller by which an operator can drive and steer the modular electric vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. An interchangeable vehicle assembly module of a modular electric vehicle, comprising:
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a. two axial module surfaces at axial ends of the vehicle assembly module with an axis extending therethrough oriented in a direction of travel of the modular electric vehicle; b. at least one connecting module surface at an axial module surface thereof configured to attach to an adjoining connecting module surface of an adjacent vehicle assembly module; c. a central power bus connectable to the central power bus of adjacent vehicle assembly modules at adjoining module surfaces; d. a central network bus connectable to the central network bus of adjacent vehicle assembly modules at adjoining module surfaces; and e. a module controller connected to the central power bus and the central network bus. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification