VEHICLE CONFIGURATOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle configurator (100) comprising a chassis (1), a transport structure (2) and one or more transfer means (41). The one or more transfer means are essentially arranged in a displacement plane. The vehicle configurator (100) is designed such that the transport structure (2) is displaceable with the one or more transfer means (41) in the displacement plane for loading or unloading the transport structure (2) from the chassis (1).

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. Vehicle configurator comprising a chassis, at least one transport body, one or more transfer component(s), the one or more transfer component(s) being disposed substantially in a plane of displacement, wherein the vehicle configurator is configured that the transport body is configured to be displaced in the displacement plane by the one or more transfer component(s), for loading or unloading the transport body from the chassis.

20. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, comprising a station, wherein the vehicle configurator is configured such that the transport body is slidable between the chassis (and the station.

21. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, comprising a further chassis, wherein the vehicle configurator is configured such that the transport body is slidable between the chassis and the further chassis.

22. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, configured such that the direction of displacement of the transport body is lateral to the longitudinal axis of the chassis.

23. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, wherein the chassis and/or the further chassis and/or the station each comprise a receptacle for the transport body, which receptacle is in each adapted to the transport body.

24. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, wherein the one or more transfer component(s) are formed as components of the chassis (and/or as components of the further chassis and/or as components of the transport body (and/or as components of the station.

25. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, wherein the one or more transfer agents are at least partially formed as a bearing with wheels, rollers or balls, as a conveyor belt, as a chain transport system or as a sliding plane, or combinations thereof.

26. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, wherein the chassis and/or the further chassis and/or the station are adjustable in height.

27. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, comprising a guide device, for guiding the transport body during displacement.

28. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19 comprising a set of transport bodies, preferably comprising at least one transport body for passenger transport and one transport body for transport of goods.

29. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, wherein the transport body is fixed to the chassis by at least one retractable or rotatable fixing agent.

30. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19 comprising a connection between the chassis and the transport body, for exchanging data and/or for power supply, wherein the connection is a cable connection or a wireless connection.

31. A chassis (comprising one or more transfer component(s) arranged substantially in a plane of displacement, the chassis being configured that a transport body is displaceable with the one or more transfer component(s) (in the displacement plane for loading or unloading the transport body from the chassis.

32. The chassis according to claim 31, configured that the direction of displacement of the transport body is lateral to the longitudinal axis of the chassis.

33. A method for moving a transport body in a vehicle configurator comprising a chassis, a transport body and one or more transfer component(s), the one or more transfer component(s) being arranged substantially in a displacement plane or forming a displacement plane, respectively, comprising the step of moving the transport body with the one or more transfer component(s) in the plane of displacement, for loading or unloading the transport body from the chassis.

34. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, wherein the vehicle is a roadworthy vehicle or an autonomous roadworthy vehicle.

35. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, wherein the vehicle is a self-supporting rolling chassis.

36. The vehicle configurator according to claim 35, wherein the self-supporting rolling chassis is of a skateboard type.

37. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, wherein a support surface of the chassis and a support surface of the station are substantially aligned in a plane.

38. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, wherein the support surface of the chassis and the support surface of the station are spaced apart in Z-direction from one another by a distance a of approx. 1 cm≤a≤20 cm.

39. The vehicle configurator according to claim 19, wherein the support surface of the chassis and the support surface of the station are spaced apart in Z-direction from one another by a distance a of approx. 1 cm≤a≤5 cm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Further embodiments, advantages and applications of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims and from the description which now follows with reference to the figures. Thereby showing:

[0051] FIGS. 1a and 1b each show a vehicle configurator according to different embodiments of the invention;

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a vehicle configurator according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-section from a top view of the vehicle configurator according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a transport body on a station according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0055] FIG. 5 shows a transport body on a station according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0056] FIG. 6 shows a vehicle configurator according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0057] FIG. 7 shows fastening component(s) for fastening the transport body to the chassis.

[0058] FIG. 8 shows a vehicle configurator according to a further embodiment of the invention.

WAY(S) OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0059] FIG. 1a schematically shows an embodiment of a vehicle configurator 100 comprising a chassis 1 and a transport body 2. Furthermore, the vehicle configurator 100 comprises one or more transfer component(s) which are not visible in the figure, but which may be attached to the chassis 1 or the transport body 2. The one or more transfer component(s) are arranged substantially in a virtual displacement plane. The transport body 2 is displaceable in this displacement plane, for loading and unloading the transport body 2 from the chassis 1.

[0060] FIG. 1b schematically shows a further embodiment of a vehicle configurator 100 comprising a chassis 1, a transport body 2 and additionally a station 3. Furthermore, the vehicle configurator 100 comprises several transfer component(s) which are not visible in the figure, but which may be attached to the station 3, the chassis 1 or the transport body 2. The chassis 1 and the station 3 may each be configured with a support surface 11, 31 for the transport body 2. The one or more transfer component(s) are arranged substantially in a virtual displacement plane. The transport body 2 is displaceable in this displacement plane between the chassis 1 and the station 2, for loading and unloading the transport body 2 from the chassis 1.

[0061] Station 2 can be fixed or can be movable.

[0062] Preferably, the vehicle configurator 100 is configured such that the support surface 11 of the chassis 1 and the support surface 31 of the station 3 are aligned in a substantially planar manner, i.e., are arranged at substantially the same height (in the Z-direction).

[0063] The direction of displacement of the transport body 2 is preferably lateral (in the X-direction) to the longitudinal axis of the chassis 1 (in the Y-direction), as indicated by the illustrated arrow 111.

[0064] Furthermore, the chassis 1 and/or the station 2 can each comprise a receptacle for the transport body 2, which receptacle is in particular adapted for the transport body 2. In FIG. 1, such a receptacle 12 of the chassis 1 is illustrated. This is designed to be adapted for the transport body 2, that is to say that in particular the rounded corners 21 of the transport body 2 are adapted to the receptacle 12 of the chassis 1.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a vehicle configurator 100 according to a further embodiment of the invention comprising a chassis 1, a transport body 2 and a station 3. Furthermore, the vehicle configurator 100 comprises a plurality of transfer component(s) 41, 42 for moving the transport body 2. The transfer component(s) 41, 42 of this embodiment are designed as rollers, or roller bearings, of the station 3 and the chassis 1, which move the transport body 2 back and forth between station 3 and chassis 1. The transfer component(s) 41, 42 could also be formed as bearings made of balls, as a conveyor belt, rollers, conveyor belts, chain transport system or as a sliding plane.

[0066] The chassis 1 and the station 3 may each be configured with a support surface 11, 31 for the transport body 2. The vehicle configurator 100 is then configured such that the support surface 11 of the chassis 1 and the support surface 31 of the station 3 are aligned in a substantially planar manner, i.e., are arranged at substantially the same height (in the Z-direction). The transport body 2 would then be movable between the support surface 13 of the chassis 1 and the support surface 31 of the station 3 by the transfer component(s) 41, 42.

[0067] Advantageously, the direction of displacement of the transport body 2 is lateral (in the X-direction) to the longitudinal axis of the chassis 1 (in the Y-direction).

[0068] Transfer component(s) 41, 42 are formed as components of chassis 1 and station 3 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. However, they can also be components of the station 3 or of the chassis 1 only, or could also be formed on the underside of the transport body 2.

[0069] In order for the chassis 1 and station 3 to be substantially even level, the station 3 and/or chassis 1 may be adjustable in height relative to the ground on which they stand. This applies to all embodiments.

[0070] The chassis 1 and/or station 3 may have a wired or wireless connection to the transport body, for power and data supply.

[0071] FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of a cross-section of a further embodiment of the vehicle configurator 100 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. In addition to the features of the vehicle configurator 100 described above, the station 3 of this embodiment comprises a guiding device 32, for guiding the transport body 2 during displacement, in particular on a support surface 31 of the station 3. The guiding device 32 is designed in such a way that it guides the transport body 2 in the direction of the chassis 1. In particular, the guiding device 32 may be configured as sleepers which prevent lateral movement of the transport body 3, perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the transport body 2. In particular, the sleepers may be arranged in a funnel shape in the direction of the chassis 2 for this purpose.

[0072] The vehicle configurator 100 according to one of the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 may also comprise, in a further embodiment, a plurality of transport bodies 2. Embodiments of these further transport bodies 2 are shown schematically in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, and are explained in the following.

[0073] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a transport body 2, which is designed in particular for transporting goods. For this purpose, sliding doors 201 are attached to the sides, which can be used for loading and unloading of transport body 2.

[0074] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a transport body 2, which is designed in particular for transporting passengers. For this purpose, this transport body 2 comprises chairs 202 for the passengers.

[0075] In particular, the vehicle configurator 100 may comprise a set of different transport bodies 2, which may be moved by the one or more transfer component(s) as required.

[0076] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the vehicle configurator, wherein the configurator comprises a further chassis 300. This embodiment is configured such that the transport body 2 is movable between the chassis 1 and the further chassis 300.

[0077] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the chassis, which comprises fastening component(s) 110 for fastening the transport body 2. The chassis 1 may be formed with a supporting surface 11. In an advantageous embodiment, fastening component(s) 110 are arranged on the supporting surface 11, in particular four fastening component(s), which are retractable. Retractable means that the fastening component(s) 110 are retractable in the support surface 11 in such a way that they do not impede the displacement process of the transport body 2. In further embodiments, the fastening component(s) 110 may also be displaceable, rotatable or tiltable.

[0078] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the vehicle configurator 100 comprising a chassis 1 and two transport bodies 220, 202 and transfer component(s) 41. The first transport body 220 comprises transport modules 221, which may be interconnected or partially interconnected. The transport modules 221 are of different sizes, respectively different volumes. Together they form the first transport body 220.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 8, chassis 1 may in particular comprise a second transport body 202. Here, this second transport body 202 is designed as a transport trolley. This transport trolley is used in particular for transporting transport modules 221, for example if no station is available or in order to bring the transport modules 221 to the station.

[0080] FIG. 1a also illustrates the procedure for displacing a transport body 2 in a vehicle configurator 100, which is indicated by the arrow 111 in the direction of displacement.

[0081] FIG. 1b shows a further embodiment of this method with a vehicle configurator, which also comprises a station 3. Here, too, the arrow 111 indicates the direction of displacement.

[0082] While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the present application, it should be clearly noted that the invention is not limited thereto and may be carried out in other ways within the scope of the following claims.