141 |
Body construction of electric car |
US10250333 |
2003-06-30 |
US20040134699A1 |
2004-07-15 |
Hiroshi
Shimizu |
There is provided a body construction of an electric car, in which a flat floor construction of the car body allowing batteries to be easily built therein and removed therefrom and to be accommodated under the floor in a space-effective manner is formed and in which power lines are rationally wired. In the body structure of an electric car, in which the batteries for feeding a power to a plurality of in-wheel motors (11a, 11b, 21a, 21b, 31a, 31b, 41a, and 41b) are accommodated in a floor portion of the car body, a front wheel frame (7) for having front wheels (1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b) installed thereon and a rear wheel frame (8) for having rear wheels (3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b) installed thereon are coupled by a backbone member (9) having an approximately rectangular hollow cross-section, and pluralities of battery-accommodating hollow frames (91a and 91b) are disposed to the right and left side surfaces of the backbone member (9) so as to lie parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the backbone member (9). |
142 |
Chassis stacking |
US10207644 |
2002-07-29 |
US06726438B2 |
2004-04-27 |
Adrian B. Chernoff; Christopher E. Borroni-Bird; Mohsen D. Shabana; Robert Louis Vitale |
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 substantially flat and relatively thin vehicle chassis enables compact storage of multiple vehicle chassis. This compact storage is achieved by high density vertical stacking of the vehicle chassis, which improves packaging and shipping efficiency, reduces plant floor usage for storage during or before testing, assembly or shipping processes, and may reduce overall manufacturing, assembly, shipping, and/or vehicle costs. The chassis is characterized by the absence of a front engine compartment, with energy conversion, energy storage, steering and braking systems contained substantially within a generally flat frame, having substantially flat upper and lower faces to facilitate optimal stacking efficiency. |
143 |
Chassis with energy-absorption zones |
US10309785 |
2002-12-04 |
US20030168844A1 |
2003-09-11 |
Christopher
E.
Borroni-Bird; Adrian
B.
Chernoff; Mohsen
D.
Shabana; Robert
L.
Vitale |
A chassis having systems responsive to nonmechanical control signals and a simplified body-attachment interface includes regions optimized for energy absorption from an impact to the chassis periphery. A structural frame defines open spaces within which chassis systems are positioned. Material configured to absorb energy from an impact to the chassis periphery is located between the chassis periphery and the open spaces. |
144 |
Mobile chassis and interchangeable vehicle body with ram air circulation system |
US10309795 |
2002-12-04 |
US20030168267A1 |
2003-09-11 |
Christopher
E.
Borroni-Bird; Adrian
B.
Chernoff; Mohsen
D.
Shabana; Robert
Louis
Vitale |
An improved body configuration for a vehicle having an aerodynamic configuration and defining a pair of longitudinally extending air flow channels at the opposite sides of the body and inwardly of the outer periphery of the fenders for achieving good air flow. A front bridging member is formed that defines a grille having a pair of air scoops which form an aerodynamic device for assisting in the air flow. The engine compartment is defined by a rearwardly opening extractor section for drawing air from the engine compartment and a forwardly extending exhaust system receives the exhaust gases from the engine and discharges them to the atmosphere. A belly pan provides smooth air flow through the area beneath the vehicle and includes air scoops for receiving and discharging cooling air. |
145 |
Wheel module |
US10309786 |
2002-12-04 |
US20030132584A1 |
2003-07-17 |
Christopher
E.
Borroni-Bird; Adrian
B.
Chernoff; Mohsen
D.
Shabana; Robert
Louis
Vitale; Bruce
Edward
Zemke |
A wheel module is configured for use on a vehicle chassis. A drivable vehicle includes a wheel module operatively connected to a vehicle chassis. The wheel module includes at least one non-rotating structural unit, a rotatable wheel controllably connected to the structural unit, a vehicle attachment interface operatively connected to the non-rotating structural unit including a load-bearing vehicle retention coupling and a control signal receiver. The wheel module further includes chassis components including at least one of a brake system, steering system, motor and suspension system operatively connected to the non-rotating structural unit and to the wheel, and operatively connected to the control signal receiver for controlling the wheel in response to non-mechanical control signals received through the control signal receiver. |
146 |
Multi-directional drive |
US10305374 |
2002-11-26 |
US20030127272A1 |
2003-07-10 |
Lawrence
Baker; Christopher
E.
Borroni-Bird; Adrian
B.
Chernoff; Mohsen
D.
Shabana; Robert
Vitale |
A vehicle is capable of being driven in a plurality of forward directions, the direction of travel being a function of the forward-facing orientation of a movable seat or movement of the driver to a different seat. The vehicle includes a frame, at least three wheels, a steering system, a braking system and an energy conversion system operable with respect to at least one of the wheels and controllable through non-mechanical control means. The vehicle has at least one movable seat connected to the frame and at least one operator interface operably connected to at least one of the steering system, braking system and energy conversion system that is usable to drive the vehicle in different directions when the seat is moved. A control cockpit for use on a vehicle controllable through non-mechanical controls includes a panel with a passageway, a movable seat mounted on the panel with a second passageway in communication with the first passageway, a driver interface that is movable with respect to the seat and usable for operating the vehicle via a connector connected at one end to the driver interface and extending through the first and second passageways. |
147 |
Body structure |
US09793374 |
2001-02-22 |
US06540286B2 |
2003-04-01 |
Yorito Takemoto; Kunio Takaoka; Toshiaki Sakurai; Hiroyuki Nagura; Eiichi Kobayashi; Masataka Miura |
According to a body structure of the present invention, a floor panel member is reinforced by a pair of first members, and the second member comprised of plural pipes is disposed along the width of a vehicle so as to integrate the first members. An end of the second member is extended along the longitudinal side of the vehicle and is fixed by welding in the state of penetrating into a side sill. There is no necessity of providing any reinforcement material because the second member has a high strength continuously along the width of the vehicle. Moreover, there is no necessity of increasing a board thickness for the purpose of securing the rigidity because the second member penetrates into the side sill. On the other hand, the second member can be manufactured by cutting an existing steel pipe to a predetermined side. It is therefore possible to cope with the change in the width of the vehicle only by changing a cutting size. |
148 |
Vehicle belly pan |
US10207667 |
2002-07-29 |
US20030037971A1 |
2003-02-27 |
Adrian
B.
Chernoff; Christopher
E.
Borroni-Bird; Mohsen
D.
Shabana; Edward
Frank
Ryntz; Robert
Louis
Vitale |
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. |
149 |
Automobile floor structure |
US10206815 |
2002-07-29 |
US20030034673A1 |
2003-02-20 |
Tsuyoshi
Sugihara; Takanobu
Kamura; Minoru
Sunada; Yoshio
Fujii; Shoji
Nanba; Toshiharu
Ikeda; Gunji
Yoshii; Tsutomu
Naganuma |
A floor is partitioned into a plurality of areas S1 to S4 by a floor tunnel portion 11, side frames 13, side sills 12, and cross members 7, 8, 15, and 16, and the rigidity of the floor panels of the areas S1 to S3 is adjusted by rigidity adjustment portions 20, 21, 22, 23, and 25. These floor panels are set such that their natural frequency in a 2null1 mode, in which two antinodes are generated in the length direction of the automobile and one antinode is generated in the width direction of the automobile, is 240 to 260 Hz. Thus, a reduction in road noise due to automobile tire cavity resonance is achieved. |
150 |
Lightweight vehicle frame construction using stiff torque boxes |
US09574644 |
2000-05-18 |
US06299240B1 |
2001-10-09 |
Del C Schroeder; David M Langer; Bryan Logan; David G Speth |
A stiff torque box is used with frame rail segments to compose a vehicle frame. The stiff torque box is used to cross-link the left hand and right hand sides of a vehicle frame and is made up of an extruded aluminum skeleton which forms a number of internal cavities, as well as connecting tabs. The connecting tabs are used to fix the frame rail segments to the stiff torque box. Implementing stiff torque boxes in vehicle frame construction allows for more rigid vehicle frames with the advantage of additional weight savings. This construction is ideal for aluminum frame, front wheel drive and body on frame vehicles. Because of the characteristics of such a vehicle frame, opportunities arise to implement other weight conservative vehicle components. |
151 |
Passenger car |
US09384828 |
1999-08-27 |
US06220654B1 |
2001-04-24 |
Ulrich Sommer |
The passenger car has a supporting structure, with at least two longitudinal members (1). The longitudinal members are joined together in the middle by means of a torsionally rigid cross-member (2) which is constructed as a large-volume tubular profile and accommodates at least parts of the transmission, while the longitudinal members (1) at the side bend upwards from a floor panel (5) and in order to increase the flexural rigidity of the longitudinal member (1) about the transverse axis, the vertical extension of longitudinal member (1) is sufficiently great that the top edge (1) is located at least at the height of the seating-surface of the driver's seat. |
152 |
Automobile body portion and frame assembly |
US333211 |
1999-06-15 |
US6022069A |
2000-02-08 |
Oliver Birkwald; Hermann Kompf |
In a body portion and frame assembly of a motor vehicle including a component assembly consisting of two longitudinally extending U-shaped profile members with outwardly directed spaced legs interconnected by transverse bottom and end panels which are welded to the U-shaped profile members, longitudinal frame members of the vehicle extend through the spaces between the spaced legs and are position-adjustable therein before they are welded to the legs of the U-shaped profile members thereby forming the body portion and frame member assembly with the frame members being accurately spaced from each other independently of tolerance deviations imparted by the transverse panels attached to the profile members. |
153 |
Method of conversion of vehicle bodies |
US512522 |
1983-07-11 |
US4514891A |
1985-05-07 |
David L. Draper |
A vehicle body of the convertible or targa type and the method of converting such a body from a sedan type vehicle body in which a reinforcing structure is disposed within the passenger compartment and is fastened thereto to form a centrally extending structural channel member extending longitudinally within the passenger compartment and having forward and rearward transverse portions fastened to the forward and rearward suspension supports of the body to transmit torsional and beaming loads imposed on the vehicle body by the ground engaging wheels. |
154 |
Conversion of vehicle bodies |
US282078 |
1981-07-10 |
US4457555A |
1984-07-03 |
David L. Draper |
A vehicle body of the convertible or targa type and the method of converting such a body from a sedan type vehicle body in which a reinforcing structure is disposed within the passenger compartment and is fastened thereto to form a centrally extending structural channel member extending longitudinally within the passenger compartment and having forward and rearward transverse portions fastened to the forward and rearward suspension supports of the body to transmit torsional and beaming loads imposed on the vehicle body by the ground engaging wheels. |
155 |
Wheeled industrial/agricultural tractors |
US444395 |
1981-12-28 |
US4450925A |
1984-05-29 |
Peter C. Gardner |
A wheeled industrial/agricultural tractor adapted for use as, for example, an aircraft tug. The tractor has an equipment support frame (3, 28) in the form of a heavy base plate (3) carried beneath an operator's station portion of a conventional tractor chassis (50, 10, 51, 52, 53) and a pair of transversely spaced struts (28) secured (25) to the front portion of the base plate (3) and arranged to extend forwardly thereof. The front ends of the struts have attachment means (19, 28a) for the support of equipment, such as a towing hitch (20), at the front of the tractor. First (1, 2, 70) and second (27, 29, 28c, 28d) attachment means are provided for respectively securing the base plate and struts to the chassis. The tractor also has an engine installation (10, 12, 13, 14) which allows downwardly sloping body panelling (16) at the front to improve vision of the front mounted equipment (20). |
156 |
Car platform structure |
US620529 |
1975-10-08 |
US4014587A |
1977-03-29 |
Walter S. Eggert, Jr. |
Car platform chassis structure adapted to have an open-bottomed body balloon structure assembled thereon, the platform structure comprising main side sills extending beyond wheel-wells with inwardly displaced end portions at the wheel wells, the main side sills having a plurality of longitudinally spaced cross-members secured therebetween providing dash-firewall, front seat support and back seat support and vertically spaced horizontal plate-like members secured on cross-members therebetween to form a box-like structure in the front wheel-well zone, a floor pan secured beneath the cross-members between wheel-well zones, longitudinally spaced vertical bulkheads secured to the outer sides of the main side sills in the space between wheel-well zones, and outer auxiliary side sills between the wheel-well zones secured to the main side sills over the bulkheads, the hollow spaces of the side sills being filled, if desired, with rigidifying material, as of plastic foam, either pre-formed or injected. |
157 |
Loader frame structure |
US530211 |
1974-12-06 |
US3984141A |
1976-10-05 |
Roy A. Gilette; Maurice Klee |
A material handling implement is disclosed in this application. The material handling implement includes a body that defines an engine space at one end and a forward space at the opposite end with a pair of stanchions projecting upwardly at the rear of the body. The body consists of a rigid plate that is bent at spaced locations to define the bottom wall and side walls for the engine and forward spaces as well as outwardly directed flanges at the upper ends of the respective side walls. The body is reinforced adjacent the forward and rear ends and the reinforcement at the rear end defines a fuel tank. The body is further reinforced intermediate the forward and rear ends by walls that define compartments for housing chains. |
158 |
Lower body construction for automobiles |
US61681867 |
1967-02-17 |
US3419303A |
1968-12-31 |
EGGERT JR WALTER S; WESSELLS III HENRY W |
|
159 |
Method of reconstructing a frame |
US55146566 |
1966-05-19 |
US3309759A |
1967-03-21 |
VITTONE JOSEPH C |
|
160 |
Unitized convertible underbody |
US22068662 |
1962-08-31 |
US3110518A |
1963-11-12 |
WESSELLS HENRY W |
|