IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,442,462
Granted Patent B2
US 10,442,462 · App. 15/544,534 · Granted Oct 15, 2019

Vehicle body structure for autonomously traveling vehicle

Inventors: Atsushi Higuchi (Sakai, JP); Kyosuke Taka (Sakai, JP); Tetsushi Ito (Sakai, JP); Kiyotaka Hirata (Sakai, JP); Kosuke Tanaka (Sakai, JP)
Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B62D11/04B60K1/02B60K7/0007B60K17/043B60K17/145B60K17/342B61B13/00B62D21/14F16H7/1254F16H37/02B60K2007/0061
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,442,462
App. No.
15/544,534
Granted
Oct 15, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

To provide a vehicle body structure for an autonomously traveling vehicle that is distinguished for maintainability. A vehicle body structure ( 1 ) for an autonomously traveling vehicle that travels on wheels ( 3 ) provided on a chassis ( 2 ) includes side frames ( 4 R), ( 4 L) that extend in a chassis longitudinal direction on both sides of the chassis with respect to a chassis width direction, first drive units ( 20 ) in each of which a drive motor ( 5 ) that is for driving the wheel ( 3 ), a reduction gear ( 6 ), and a drive shaft ( 7 ) that drives the wheel ( 3 ) are integrally configured, and second drive units ( 30 ) which each rotatably hold a drive shaft ( 7 ) that drives the wheel ( 3 ). The vehicle body structure ( 1 ) is characterized in that the first drive units ( 20 ) and the second drive units ( 30 ) are each provided so as to be integrally mountable in and dismountable from the same side frames.

Claims (27)

1. A vehicle body structure for an autonomously traveling vehicle that travels on wheels provided on a chassis, the vehicle body structure comprising:

side frames that extend in a chassis longitudinal direction on both sides of the chassis with respect to a chassis width direction;

first power drivers in each of which a drive motor to drive one of the wheels, a drive transmission, and a drive shaft that drives the one of the wheels are integrally configured; and

second power drivers which each rotatably hold a drive shaft that drives another wheel, wherein

the first power drivers and the second power drivers are each provided so as to be integrally mountable in and dismountable from the same side frames.

2. The vehicle body structure for the autonomously traveling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the drive shafts of the first power drivers and the drive shafts of the second power drivers are respectively connected by endless members.

3. The vehicle body structure for the autonomously traveling vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein mounting positions of each of the second power driver in the side frame include a first mounting position in which the second power driver is connected to the first power driver through the endless member and a second mounting position which is closer to the first power driver than the first mounting position.

4. The vehicle body structure for the autonomously traveling vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein adjustment members for adjustment in suspension states of the endless members are provided between the first power drivers and the second power drivers and the adjustment members are configured so as to push up the endless members with movement of the second power drivers toward the first power drivers.

5. The vehicle body structure for the autonomously traveling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein mounting positions of each of the second power driver in the side frame include a first mounting position in which the second power driver is connected to the first power driver through an endless member and a second mounting position which is closer to the first power driver than the first mounting position.

6. The vehicle body structure for the autonomously traveling vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein adjustment members for adjustment in suspension states of the endless members are provided between the first power drivers and the second power drivers and the adjustment members are configured so as to push up the endless members with movement of the second power drivers toward the first power drivers.

7. The vehicle body structure for the autonomously traveling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the side frames each includes

a first installation surface that faces downward is brought into surface contact with the top portions of the first power driver and the second power driver, and

a second installation surface that is brought into surface contact with side portions of the first power driver and the second power driver,

the first power drivers and the second power drivers each includes

a first mounting portion that is brought into surface contact with the first installation surface of the side frame, on a top portion of the power driver, and

a second mounting portion that is brought into surface contact with the second installation surface of the side frame, on a side portion of the power driver, and

the first power drivers and the second power drivers are each configured so as to be mountable from an outside of the chassis with respect to the side frame.

8. The vehicle body structure for the autonomously traveling vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein mounting positions of each of the second power driver in the side frame include a first mounting position in which the second power driver is connected to the first power driver through an endless member and a second mounting position which is closer to the first power driver than the first mounting position.

9. The vehicle body structure for the autonomously traveling vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein adjustment members for adjustment in suspension states of the endless members are provided between the first power drivers and the second power drivers and the adjustment members are configured so as to push up the endless members with movement of the second power drivers toward the first power drivers.

10. The vehicle body structure for the autonomously traveling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the first power drivers and the second power drivers each includes a support member that is to support the first power driver or the second power driver by being brought into contact with a side surface of the side frame facing an inside of the chassis in a state in which the power driver is placed in a specified position in the side frame,

the support member is placed in such a position as not to interfere with the side frame when the first power driver or the second power driver is mounted in and dismounted from the side frame, and

the first power drivers and the second power drivers are each configured so as to be mountable from an outside of the chassis with respect to the side frame.

11. The vehicle body structure for the autonomously traveling vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein mounting positions of each of the second power driver in the side frame include a first mounting position in which the second power driver is connected to the first power driver through an endless member and a second mounting position which is closer to the first power driver than the first mounting position.

12. The vehicle body structure for the autonomously traveling vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the second power drivers are configured so as to be movable along a longitudinal direction of the side frames.

13. The vehicle body structure for the autonomously traveling vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein adjustment members for adjustment in suspension states of the endless members are provided between the first power drivers and the second power drivers and the adjustment members are configured so as to push up the endless members with movement of the second power drivers toward the first power drivers.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2017
From: HIGUCHI, ATSUSHI; TAKA, KYOSUKE; ITO, TETSUSHI; HIRATA, KIYOTAKA; TANAKA, KOSUKE
To: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 043514/0467 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2015-043493 · Mar 5, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170369100A1 · Dec 28, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 12,331,793 US 12,459,349