Granted Patent B2

US 7,083,016 · App. 10/206,383 · Granted Aug 1, 2006

Abstract

Claims (30)

1. In combination, a mobile chassis and a vehicle body interchangeable therewith, the combination comprising:

a frame in the mobile chassis having a plurality of spaced-apart structural members interconnected in a manner to define a plurality of packaging spaces and an external interface;

a controllable, waste-heat-producing propulsion system at least partially in at least one of the packaging spaces and controllable by wire and including a disconnectable connector in the external interface operable to disconnect the controllability of the mobile chassis by wire; and

a waste heat rejection system including a first heat exchanger at least partially in at least another of the packaging spaces and a second heat exchanger in coolant flow communication with the first heat exchanger, and the waste heat rejection system including an unobstructed disconnectable fluid coupling in the external interface connectable with the vehicle body to effect fluid flow communication between the vehicle body and the heat exchangers to reject waste heat in both the mobile chassis and the vehicle body.

2. The chassis/vehicle body combination of claim 1 wherein the vehicle body is without a propulsion system whereby to create a void and the second heat exchanger is in the void.

3. The chassis/vehicle body combination of claim 2 wherein the vehicle has a hood at least partially defining the void and the second heat exchanger is in fixed relationship to the hood.

4. The chassis/vehicle body combination of claim 2 including a third heat exchanger in coolant flow communication with the second heat exchanger to create a substantially greater surface area for heat rejection.

5. The chassis/vehicle body combination of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle body has a hood at least partially defining the void and the second heat exchanger is in fixed relationship to the hood.

6. The chassis/vehicle body combination of claim 1 wherein one of the heat exchangers is at least partially outside the frame longitudinally along a mid portion of the chassis.

7. A vehicle chassis characterized by a novel waste heat rejection system, comprising:

a frame defining a plurality of open spaces;

a suspension system including at least three wheels;

a steering system having steering components mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to at least one wheel;

an energy conversion system having energy conversion system components, mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to at least one wheel;

a waste heat rejection system having waste heat rejection system components in heat exchange relationship to the energy conversion system;

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

a plurality of body-connection components mounted with respect to the frame, including a plurality of body-retention couplings and a control signal receiver connector;

wherein the control signal receiver connector is operably connected to the waste heat rejection system and the energy conversion system;

wherein the steering components, energy conversion system components, waste heat rejection system components, braking components, body connection components, and control signal receiver connectors are mounted sufficiently within the open spaces so that no component or connector protrudes significantly outside of the frame.

8. The vehicle chassis of claim 7 , wherein the waste heat rejection system components include a plurality of heat exchanger panels.

9. The vehicle chassis of claim 8 , wherein the heat exchanger panels are nested to one another.

10. The vehicle chassis of claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger panels are arranged transversely relative to the vehicle chassis.

11. The vehicle chassis of claim 9 , wherein the chassis supports a vehicle body having a hood and the heat exchanger panels are arranged inside the hood.

12. The vehicle chassis of claim 7 , wherein the waste heat rejection system includes a cooling loop and a heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with the energy conversion system, the cooling loop being operably connected to the heat exchanger; and wherein the body-attachment couplings include an air flow coupling in heat exchange relationship to the heat exchanger.

13. The vehicle chassis of claim 7 , wherein the open spaces of the frame are sufficiently enclosed to form an air duct including an inlet air scoop and an outlet air scoop sufficiently positioned with respect to the air duct to cause waste heat to be rejected from components in the open spaces.

14. A vehicle body defining a passenger compartment, the vehicle body comprising:

a floor;

at least one person-supporting seating apparatus in the passenger compartment and mounted with respect to the floor;

at least one heat exchanger mounted with respect to the floor and in heat exchange relationship with the passenger compartment; and

at least one chassis-attachment coupling mounted with respect to the floor and including an air flow coupling operably connected to the heat exchanger.

Assignments (13)