Vehicle belly pan

• US 20030037971A1
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Shabana, Mohsen D., Chernoff, Adrian B., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E., Vitale, Robert Louis, Ryntz, Edward Frank
• Granted Patent: US 6,843,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 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 21/10 : in which the main member is plate-like
• 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 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A vehicle chassis having substantially all of the mechanical, electrical, and structural componentry necessary for a fully functional vehicle includes at least an energy conversion system, a steering system, and a braking system. The chassis is configured for matability with a variety of different types or styles of vehicle bodies. Various prior art mechanical control linkages between a driver and controlled systems are replaced with non-mechanical control signal transmission components. Fuel cell technology is also implemented. A quick plastic formed (QPF) rigid sheet (belly pan) includes cavities formed therein to facilitate attachment of various components of the energy conversion system, energy storage system, braking system, steering system, etc.

Claims

1. A vehicle chassis comprising:

a rigid sheet having formations defining a plurality of cavities;

at least three wheels mounted with respect to the rigid sheet;

an energy conversion system operably connected to at least one wheel;

an energy storage system operably connected to the energy conversion system;

a steering system operably connected to at least one wheel; and

a braking system operably connected to at least one wheel;

wherein the energy conversion system and energy storage system are mounted to the rigid sheet and at least partially located within one of the plurality of cavities.

2. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the rigid sheet includes a plurality of attachment couplings, and wherein each of the energy conversion system, energy storage system, steering system, and braking system is mounted to the rigid sheet at at least one of the plurality of attachment couplings.

3. The vehicle chassis of claim 2, wherein the plurality of attachment couplings are holes configured to engage a fastening element.

4. The vehicle chassis of claim 2, wherein the rigid sheet is positioned and configured to function as a belly pan.

5. The vehicle chassis of claim 4, wherein the rigid sheet is positioned and configured such that it forms an upper chassis face.

6. The vehicle chassis of claim 5, further comprising a body attachment interface having body connection components, the body connection components including at least one load-bearing body-retention coupling mounted with respect to the rigid sheet and exposed at or above the upper chassis face.

7. The vehicle chassis of claim 6, wherein the body connection components further include at least one electrical connector mounted with respect to the rigid sheet and exposed at or above the upper chassis face.

8. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the rigid sheet is characterized by formations configured to provide structural integrity.

9. The vehicle chassis of claim 8, wherein the formations include integrated rails and cross-members.

10. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the energy conversion system includes a fuel cell stack.

11. The vehicle chassis of claim 10, wherein the energy conversion system includes an electric motor.

12. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the rigid sheet is manufactured by quick plastic forming (QPF).

13. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the system and braking system are mounted to the rigid sheet and at least partially located within the cavities.

14. A method of assembling a vehicle chassis, comprising:

mounting an energy conversion system, energy storage system, steering system, and braking system to a rigid sheet;

wherein the energy conversion system, energy storage system, steering system, and braking system are each comprised of a plurality of operably interconnected components;

wherein the rigid sheet is formed to include a plurality of cavities of predetermined size, location, and shape;

wherein the predetermined size, location, and shape of each of the plurality of cavities is determined to position at least one of the components with respect to the rigid sheet and to at least partially contain the at least one interconnected component in the cavities.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one component of each system is at least partially positioned within one of said cavities.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising positioning hydrogen storage tanks and a fuel cell in said cavities.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising positioning an electric motor in one of said cavities.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising positioning a load-bearing body-retention coupling in one of said cavities.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising manufacturing the rigid sheet using quick plastic forming (QPF).

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising mating the rigid sheet to a body to form a vehicle.

21. A vehicle chassis comprising:

a one-piece structural sheet member formed from a single sheet of metal, and defining a plurality of cavities;

a suspension system including at least three wheels mounted with respect to the structural sheet member;

a steering system having steering components, mounted with respect to the structural sheet member and operably connected to at least one wheel;

a propulsion system having propulsion system components, mounted with respect to the structural sheet member and operably connected to at least one wheel;

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

a plurality of body attachment couplings mounted with respect to the structural member, including a plurality of body retention couplings and a control signal receiver coupling;

wherein the steering components, propulsion system components and braking components are mounted at least partially within the cavities.

22. The vehicle chassis of claim 21, wherein the one-piece structural sheet member includes integrated rails and cross members.

23. The vehicle chassis of claim 21, wherein the one-piece structural sheet member is formed from a single sheet of aluminum alloy.

24. The vehicle chassis of claim 21, wherein the one-piece structural sheet member is formed using quick plastic forming.

25. The vehicle chassis of claim 21, wherein the propulsion system includes a fuel cell.