Patent classifications
B62D65/04
Vehicle corner modules and vehicles comprising them
A vehicle corner module (VCM) is provided for regulating motion of a host vehicle which comprises a vehicle-onboard vehicle-controller. The VCM comprises a sub-frame mountable to a reference frame of the host vehicle; a wheel-hub assembly comprising a wheel-hub; VCM-sub-systems mediating between the sub-frame and the wheel-hub assembly, e.g., a drive subsystem, a steering subsystem, a suspension subsystem and/or a braking subsystem; and an VCM-onboard VCM-controller, comprising one or more processors and a computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to establish a communication link with a vehicle-controller, including electronically transferring information about the VCM from the VCM-controller to the vehicle-controller, and to perform, in response to an installation of the VCM on a vehicle, a post-installation validation-process that includes validating the VCM-subsystems and communicating a result of the validating to the vehicle-controller.
Vehicle corner modules and vehicles comprising them
A vehicle corner module (VCM) is provided for regulating motion of a host vehicle which comprises a vehicle-onboard vehicle-controller. The VCM comprises a sub-frame mountable to a reference frame of the host vehicle; a wheel-hub assembly comprising a wheel-hub; VCM-sub-systems mediating between the sub-frame and the wheel-hub assembly, e.g., a drive subsystem, a steering subsystem, a suspension subsystem and/or a braking subsystem; and an VCM-onboard VCM-controller, comprising one or more processors and a computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to establish a communication link with a vehicle-controller, including electronically transferring information about the VCM from the VCM-controller to the vehicle-controller, and to perform, in response to an installation of the VCM on a vehicle, a post-installation validation-process that includes validating the VCM-subsystems and communicating a result of the validating to the vehicle-controller.
LOW SUSPENSION ARM STRUT COUPLING
A low suspension arm strut coupling is provided for a suspension of an off-road vehicle. The suspension comprises a lower suspension arm that is hingedly coupled between a chassis of the off-road vehicle and a spindle assembly that is coupled with a front wheel. An upper suspension arm is hingedly coupled between the chassis and the spindle assembly. A strut is coupled between the lower suspension arm and the chassis. A lower pivot couples the strut to the lower suspension, and an upper pivot couples the strut to the chassis. The upper and lower pivots provide a lower center of gravity of the off-road vehicle and a relatively smaller shock angle. The lower suspension arm is reinforced to withstand forces due to movement of the front wheel and operation of the strut in response to travel over terrain.
LOW SUSPENSION ARM STRUT COUPLING
A low suspension arm strut coupling is provided for a suspension of an off-road vehicle. The suspension comprises a lower suspension arm that is hingedly coupled between a chassis of the off-road vehicle and a spindle assembly that is coupled with a front wheel. An upper suspension arm is hingedly coupled between the chassis and the spindle assembly. A strut is coupled between the lower suspension arm and the chassis. A lower pivot couples the strut to the lower suspension, and an upper pivot couples the strut to the chassis. The upper and lower pivots provide a lower center of gravity of the off-road vehicle and a relatively smaller shock angle. The lower suspension arm is reinforced to withstand forces due to movement of the front wheel and operation of the strut in response to travel over terrain.
PREFABRICATED VEHICLE
A prefabricated vehicle may include a body module providing a vehicle body; a platform module having a battery and a driving wheel, and selectively fastened to the body module; a connecting portion that includes a magnetic module provided in any one of the body module and the platform module and an armature provided in a remaining one of the body module and the platform module, the connecting portion being configured such that the magnetic module and the armature face each other when the body module and the platform module are fastened to each other; and a controller connecting the body module and the platform module to each other to be easily replaceable by applying power to the magnetic module to allow the magnetic module and the armature to be connected to each other by a magnetic force.
PREFABRICATED VEHICLE
A prefabricated vehicle may include a body module providing a vehicle body; a platform module having a battery and a driving wheel, and selectively fastened to the body module; a connecting portion that includes a magnetic module provided in any one of the body module and the platform module and an armature provided in a remaining one of the body module and the platform module, the connecting portion being configured such that the magnetic module and the armature face each other when the body module and the platform module are fastened to each other; and a controller connecting the body module and the platform module to each other to be easily replaceable by applying power to the magnetic module to allow the magnetic module and the armature to be connected to each other by a magnetic force.
ROD-END FRONT SUSPENSION
A rod-end front suspension is provided for an off-road vehicle. The rod-end front suspension comprises a spindle assembly that is pivotally coupled with an upper suspension arm by way of a first rod-end joint and pivotally coupled with a lower suspension arm by way of a second rod-end joint. A steering rod-end joint coupled with the spindle assembly pivotally receives a steering rod. An axle assembly coupled with the spindle assembly conducts torque from a transaxle to a wheel coupled with the spindle assembly. Each of the first and second rod-end joints comprises a ball rotatably retained within a casing. The ball is fastened within a recess between parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. A threaded shank extending from the casing is threadably fixated with the suspension arm, such that the spindle assembly may be moved with respect to the casing and the suspension arm.
ROD-END FRONT SUSPENSION
A rod-end front suspension is provided for an off-road vehicle. The rod-end front suspension comprises a spindle assembly that is pivotally coupled with an upper suspension arm by way of a first rod-end joint and pivotally coupled with a lower suspension arm by way of a second rod-end joint. A steering rod-end joint coupled with the spindle assembly pivotally receives a steering rod. An axle assembly coupled with the spindle assembly conducts torque from a transaxle to a wheel coupled with the spindle assembly. Each of the first and second rod-end joints comprises a ball rotatably retained within a casing. The ball is fastened within a recess between parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. A threaded shank extending from the casing is threadably fixated with the suspension arm, such that the spindle assembly may be moved with respect to the casing and the suspension arm.
Mobility-assist hybrid conversion vehicles and methods of manufacturing the same
A replacement floor assembly may include a base member having a top side, a bottom side, a front end, a rear end, a left side, and a right side. The front end and forward portions of the left and right sides define a forward section of the base member, whereas the rear end and rear portions of the left and right sides define a rear section of the base member. A first outboard flange member is mounted to at least a portion of the left side of the base member and a second outboard flange member is mounted to at least a portion of the right side of said base member. A front flange member is mounted to at least a portion of the front end of said base member so that at least portions of the forward section of the base member, the first and second outboard flange members, and the front flange member define a battery well.
Mobility-assist hybrid conversion vehicles and methods of manufacturing the same
A replacement floor assembly may include a base member having a top side, a bottom side, a front end, a rear end, a left side, and a right side. The front end and forward portions of the left and right sides define a forward section of the base member, whereas the rear end and rear portions of the left and right sides define a rear section of the base member. A first outboard flange member is mounted to at least a portion of the left side of the base member and a second outboard flange member is mounted to at least a portion of the right side of said base member. A front flange member is mounted to at least a portion of the front end of said base member so that at least portions of the forward section of the base member, the first and second outboard flange members, and the front flange member define a battery well.