IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,148,519
Granted Patent B2
US 11,148,519 · App. 16/682,916 · Granted Oct 19, 2021

Vehicle chassis

Inventors: Yi-Hsuan Hung (Taipei, TW); Ping-Hung Shih (Taipei, TW); Li-Fan Liu (Taipei, TW); Yi-Ya Liao (Taipei, TW); Kan-Yuan Tian (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY
B60K1/04B60L50/66B60N2/01B60P1/6418B60S9/14B62D21/09B62D21/12B62D21/14H01M50/20B60K6/28B60K2001/0422B60K2001/0433B60K2001/0455B60L53/80B60Y2200/91B60Y2200/92B60Y2400/112H01M2220/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,148,519
App. No.
16/682,916
Granted
Oct 19, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle chassis including a vehicle frame defining an inner space and being operable to switch between a first expanded state and a collapsed state, and a loading device mounted to the inner space and removably connected to the vehicle frame. The loading device defines a first loading surface when the vehicle frame is in the first expanded state, and the loading device defines a second loading surface that is smaller than the first loading surface when the vehicle frame is in the collapsed state.

Claims (70)

1. A vehicle chassis ( 100 ) comprising:

a vehicle frame ( 10 ) defining an inner space ( 15 ) and being operable to switch between a first expanded state and a collapsed state; and

a loading device ( 20 ) mounted to said inner space ( 15 ) and removably connected to said vehicle frame ( 10 ), said loading device ( 20 ) defining a first loading surface ( 201 ) when said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is in the first expanded state, and said loading device ( 20 ) defining a second loading surface ( 202 ) that is smaller than said first loading surface ( 201 ) when said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is in the collapsed state;

wherein said loading device ( 20 ) includes a first loading assembly ( 2 ) that is to be removably connected to said vehicle frame ( 10 ), and a second loading assembly ( 3 ) that is to be removably coupled to said first loading assembly ( 2 );

wherein, when said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is in the first expanded state, said first loading assembly ( 2 ) is in a separated state, and defines a mounting space ( 25 ) for said second loading assembly ( 3 ) to be mounted thereto and to be coupled to said first loading assembly ( 2 ), and said second loading assembly ( 3 ) cooperates with said first loading assembly ( 2 ) to define said first loading surface ( 201 ); and

wherein, when said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is in the collapsed state, said second loading assembly ( 3 ) is separated from said first loading assembly ( 2 ), and said first loading assembly ( 2 ) is in an assembled state and defines said second loading surface ( 202 ).

2. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

said first loading assembly ( 2 ) includes a plurality of first loading boxes ( 21 ) removably connected to said vehicle frame ( 10 ), and a plurality of first battery modules ( 23 ) removably and respectively disposed in said first loading boxes ( 21 ), each of said first loading boxes ( 21 ) being permitted to be removably coupled to adjacent ones of said first loading boxes ( 21 );

when said first loading assembly ( 2 ) is in the separated state, said first loading boxes ( 21 ) are spaced apart from each other to define said mounting space ( 25 ) thereamong; and

when said first loading assembly ( 2 ) is in the assembled state, said first loading boxes ( 21 ) are coupled to each other to cooperatively define said second loading surface ( 202 ).

3. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:

said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is permitted to be telescopic in at least a front-rear direction (X);

said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is formed with at least one lateral opening ( 16 ) that is registered with said mounting space ( 25 );

said second loading assembly ( 3 ) includes at least one second loading box ( 31 ) and at least one second battery module ( 33 ) removably disposed in said at least one second loading box ( 31 ), said at least one second loading box ( 31 ) being permitted to be removably coupled between corresponding two of said first loading boxes ( 21 ); and

when said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is in the first expanded state, said second loading box ( 31 ) is permitted to be uncoupled from said first loading boxes ( 21 ) in a lateral direction (Y) perpendicular to the front-rear direction (X) through said lateral opening ( 16 ).

4. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein:

said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is formed with two of said lateral openings ( 16 ) respectively at two opposite sides thereof, said lateral openings ( 16 ) being spaced apart in the lateral direction (Y);

said second loading assembly ( 3 ) includes two of said second loading boxes ( 31 ) and two of said second battery modules ( 33 ) removably and respectively disposed in said second loading boxes ( 31 ); and

when said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is in the first expanded state, each of said second loading boxes ( 31 ) is permitted to be respectively uncoupled from corresponding two of said first loading boxes ( 21 ) through a respective one of said lateral openings ( 16 ).

5. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 4 , wherein:

said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is telescopic in the front-rear direction (X) and the lateral direction (Y), such that said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is operable to switch between the first expanded state and the collapsed state;

said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is substantially rectangular, includes four casing members ( 11 ) respectively disposed at four corners of said vehicle frame ( 10 ), and is further formed with an end opening ( 17 ) that is permitted to be registered to said mounting space ( 25 );

said first loading assembly ( 2 ) includes four of said first loading boxes ( 21 ) removably and respectively connected to said casing members ( 11 );

said second loading assembly ( 3 ) further includes a third loading box ( 34 ) and at least one third battery module ( 36 ) removably disposed in said third loading box ( 34 ), said third loading box ( 34 ) being permitted to be removably coupled among said first loading boxes ( 21 ) and said second loading boxes ( 31 ); and

when said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is in the first expanded state, said first, second and third loading boxes ( 21 , 31 , 34 ) cooperatively define said first loading surface ( 201 ), and said third loading box ( 34 ) is permitted to be uncoupled from said first and second loading boxes ( 21 , 31 ) in the front-rear direction (X) through said end opening ( 17 ).

6. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:

said first, second and third battery modules ( 23 , 33 , 36 ) are electrically connected to each other in parallel when said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is in the first expanded state; and

said first battery modules ( 23 ) are electrically connected to each other in parallel when said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is in the collapsed state.

7. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 6 , wherein:

each of said first loading boxes ( 21 ) includes two first through hole units ( 222 ), each of said first battery modules ( 23 ) including two first electrode units ( 232 ) that respectively extend through said first through hole units ( 222 );

each of said second loading boxes ( 31 ) includes three second through hole units ( 321 ), each of said second battery modules ( 33 ) including three second electrode units ( 332 ) that respectively extend through said second through hole units ( 321 );

said third loading box ( 34 ) includes six third through hole units ( 349 ), said second loading assembly ( 3 ) including three of said third battery modules ( 36 ) that are removably disposed in said third loading box ( 34 ), each of said third battery modules ( 36 ) including two third electrode units ( 362 ) that respectively extend through corresponding two of said third through hole units ( 349 ); and

when said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is in the first expanded state, each of said third electrode units ( 362 ) of one of said third battery modules ( 36 ) is electrically connected to one of said second electrode units ( 332 ) of a respective one of said second battery modules ( 33 ), each of said third electrode units ( 362 ) of the remaining two of said third battery modules ( 36 ) is electrically connected to a corresponding one of said first electrode units ( 232 ), and the remaining two of said second electrode units ( 332 ) of each of said second battery modules ( 33 ) are respectively and electrically connected to the corresponding first electrode units ( 232 ).

8. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:

each of said first loading boxes ( 21 ) includes a plurality of first guiding tongues ( 216 ) extending in the front-rear direction (X), and a plurality of second guiding tongues ( 217 ) extending in the lateral direction (Y), said first guiding tongues ( 216 ) being spaced apart from each other in an up-down direction (Z) perpendicular to both the front-rear direction (X) and the lateral direction (Y) to define a plurality of first guiding grooves ( 218 ), and said second guiding tongues ( 217 ) being spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction (Z) to define a plurality of second guiding grooves ( 219 );

each of said second loading boxes ( 31 ) includes a plurality of third guiding tongues ( 317 ) extending in the front-rear direction (X) and being spaced apart in the up-down direction (Z) to define a plurality of third guiding grooves ( 319 ), and a plurality of fourth guiding tongues ( 318 ) extending in the lateral direction (Y) and disposed at two opposite sides of said second loading box ( 31 ) in such a manner that said fourth guiding tongues ( 318 ) at each side of said second loading box ( 31 ) are spaced apart in the up-down direction (Z) to define a plurality of fourth guiding grooves ( 320 );

said third loading box ( 34 ) includes a plurality of fifth guiding tongues ( 347 ) extending in the front-rear direction (X) and disposed at two opposite sides of said third loading box ( 34 ) in such a manner that said fifth guiding tongues ( 347 ) at each side of said third loading box ( 34 ) are spaced apart in the up-down direction (Z) to define a plurality of fifth guiding grooves ( 348 ); and

each of said first and third guiding tongues ( 216 , 317 ) is permitted to be sildably connected to a corresponding one of said fifth guiding grooves ( 348 ), each of said second guiding tongues ( 217 ) is permitted to be slidably connected to a corresponding one of said fourth guiding grooves ( 320 ), each of said fourth guiding tongues ( 318 ) is permitted to be slidably connected to a corresponding one of said second guiding grooves ( 219 ), and each of said fifth guiding tongues ( 347 ) is permitted to be slidably connected to corresponding ones of said first and third guiding grooves ( 218 , 319 ).

9. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 8 , wherein:

each of said first loading boxes ( 21 ) further includes a first movement module ( 26 ) that is mounted in said first guiding tongues ( 216 ) and said first guiding grooves ( 218 ), and a second movement module ( 27 ) that is mounted in said second guiding tongues ( 217 ) and said second guiding grooves ( 219 );

each of said second loading boxes ( 31 ) further includes a third movement module ( 61 ) that is mounted in said third guiding tongues ( 317 ) and said third guiding grooves ( 319 ), and two fourth movement modules ( 62 ) that are disposed respectively at the opposite sides of said second loading boxes ( 31 ) and that are mounted in said corresponding fourth guiding tongues ( 318 ) and fourth guiding grooves ( 320 ), each of said fourth movement modules ( 62 ) being permitted to cooperate with said corresponding second movement module ( 27 ) to co-facilitate movement of each of said second loading boxes ( 31 ) relative to the corresponding two of said first loading boxes ( 21 ) in the lateral direction (Y); and

said third loading box ( 34 ) further includes two fifth movement modules ( 63 ) that are disposed respectively at the opposite sides of said third loading box ( 34 ) and that are mounted in said corresponding fifth guiding tongues ( 347 ) and fifth guiding grooves ( 348 ), each of said fifth movement modules ( 63 ) being permitted to cooperate with said corresponding first and third movement modules ( 26 , 61 ) to co-facilitate movement of said third loading box ( 34 ) relative to said first and second loading boxes ( 21 , 31 ) in the front-rear direction (X).

10. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 9 , wherein:

each of said first movement modules ( 26 ) of said first loading boxes ( 21 ) includes a plurality of first horizontal coils ( 261 ) and a plurality of first vertical coils ( 262 ), each of said first horizontal coils ( 261 ) being mounted to a corresponding one of said first guiding tongues ( 216 ) that is for bearing a corresponding one of said fifth guiding tongues ( 347 ), said first vertical coils ( 262 ) being disposed in said first guiding grooves ( 218 ), and said first vertical coils ( 262 ) in each of said first guiding grooves ( 218 ) being spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction (X);

each of said second movement modules ( 27 ) of said first loading boxes ( 21 ) includes a plurality of second horizontal coils ( 271 ) and a plurality of second vertical coils ( 272 ), each of said second horizontal coils ( 271 ) being mounted to a corresponding one of said second guiding tongues ( 217 ) that is for bearing a corresponding one of said fourth guiding tongues ( 318 ), said second vertical coils ( 272 ) being disposed in said second guiding grooves ( 219 ), and said second vertical coils ( 272 ) in each of said second guiding grooves ( 219 ) being spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction (Y);

each of said third movement modules ( 61 ) of said second loading boxes ( 31 ) includes a plurality of third horizontal coils ( 611 ) and a plurality of third vertical coils ( 612 ), each of said third horizontal coils ( 611 ) being mounted to a corresponding one of said third guiding tongues ( 317 ) that is for bearing a corresponding one of said fifth guiding tongues ( 347 ), said third vertical coils ( 612 ) being disposed in said third guiding grooves ( 319 ), and said third vertical coils ( 612 ) in each of said third guiding grooves ( 319 ) being spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction (X);

each of said fourth movement modules ( 62 ) of said second loading boxes ( 31 ) includes a plurality of fourth horizontal coils ( 621 ) and a plurality of fourth vertical coils ( 622 ), each of said fourth horizontal coils ( 621 ) and each of said fourth vertical coils ( 622 ) being mounted to a corresponding one of said fourth guiding tongues ( 318 ), each of said fourth horizontal coils ( 621 ) being disposed above a corresponding one of said second horizontal coils ( 271 ), and each of said fourth vertical coils ( 622 ) being operable to be registered with one of said second vertical coils ( 272 ) in said second guiding grooves ( 219 );

each of said fifth movement modules ( 63 ) includes a plurality of fifth horizontal coils ( 631 ) and a plurality of fifth vertical coils ( 632 ), each of said fifth horizontal coils ( 631 ) and each of said fifth vertical coils ( 632 ) being mounted to a corresponding one of said fifth guiding tongues ( 347 ), each of said fifth horizontal coils ( 631 ) being disposed above corresponding ones of said first and third horizontal coils ( 261 , 611 ), and each of said fifth vertical coils ( 632 ) being operable to be registered with one of said first vertical coils ( 262 ) in said first guiding grooves ( 218 );

said first loading assembly ( 2 ) further includes a plurality of first control modules ( 24 ) respectively assembled in said first loading boxes ( 21 ), each of said first control modules ( 24 ) being operable to power up said first horizontal and vertical coils ( 261 , 262 ) and said second horizontal and vertical coils ( 271 , 272 ) for generating magnetic force;

said second loading assembly ( 3 ) further includes two second control modules ( 37 ) respectively assembled in said second loading boxes ( 31 ) and a third control module ( 38 ) assembled in said third loading box ( 34 ), each of said second control modules ( 37 ) being operable to power up said third horizontal and vertical coils ( 611 , 612 ) and said fourth horizontal and vertical coils ( 621 , 622 ) for generating magnetic force, and said third control module ( 38 ) being operable to power up said fifth horizontal and vertical coils ( 631 , 632 ) for generating magnetic force; and

after being powered up, said first, third and fifth horizontal coils ( 261 , 611 , 631 ) have the same polarity, said second and fourth horizontal coils ( 271 , 621 ) have the same polarity, said first and third vertical coils ( 262 , 612 ) have polarity opposite to that of said fifth vertical coils ( 632 ), and said second vertical coils ( 272 ) have polarity opposite to that of said fourth vertical coils ( 626 ).

11. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 10 , wherein:

each of said first movement modules ( 26 ) further includes a plurality of first transport wheels ( 263 ) that are mounted to said corresponding first guiding tongues ( 216 ) for bearing said corresponding fifth guiding tongues ( 347 );

each of said second movement modules ( 27 ) further includes a plurality of second transport wheels ( 273 ) that are mounted to said corresponding second guiding tongues ( 217 ) for bearing said corresponding fourth guiding tongues ( 318 );

each of said third movement modules ( 61 ) further includes a plurality of third transport wheels ( 613 ) that are mounted to said corresponding third guiding tongues ( 317 ) for bearing said corresponding fifth guiding tongues ( 347 ); and

each of said first control modules ( 24 ) is operable to control movement of said fifth guiding tongues ( 347 ) via rotation of said first transport wheels ( 263 ) and to control movement of said fourth guiding tongues ( 318 ) via rotation of said second transport wheels ( 273 ), and each of said second control modules ( 37 ) is operable to control movement of said fifth guiding tongues ( 347 ) via rotation of said third transport wheels ( 613 ).

12. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:

said vehicle frame ( 10 ) further includes four pairs of telescopic rods ( 12 ), each pair of which fixedly interconnects corresponding two of said casing members ( 11 );

two pairs of said telescopic rods ( 12 ) are spaced apart in the lateral direction (Y), are telescopic in the front-rear direction (X), and respectively define two of said lateral openings ( 16 ); and

the other two pairs of said telescopic rods ( 12 ) are spaced apart in the front-rear direction (X), are telescopic in the lateral direction (Y), one of which defines said end opening ( 17 ).

13. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a lifting device ( 40 ), wherein:

said vehicle frame ( 10 ) further includes four wheels ( 13 ) respectively connected to said casing members ( 11 ) and permitted to be in contact with ground;

said lifting device ( 40 ) is for lifting said vehicle frame ( 10 ) such that said wheels ( 13 ) are not permitted to be in contact with the ground, and includes four jacks ( 43 ) respectively mounted to said casing members ( 11 ), each of said jacks having a jack main body ( 431 ) and a top strut ( 432 ) that telescopically extends from a bottom of said jack main body ( 431 ) and that has a contact member ( 433 ) disposed at a bottom thereof, said contact member ( 433 ) being a freely-rotatable ball; and

said top strut ( 432 ) is operable to move between a base position, where said contact member ( 433 ) is disposed higher than bottom of said wheels ( 13 ), and an extended position, where said contact member ( 433 ) is disposed lower than the bottom of said wheels ( 13 ).

14. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said vehicle frame is operable to be further switched to a second expanded state, in which said loading device ( 20 ) defines a third loading surface ( 203 ) that is smaller than said first loading surface ( 201 ) and that is larger than said second loading surface ( 202 ).

15. The vehicle chassis ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 14 , wherein:

said loading device ( 20 ) includes four first loading boxes ( 21 ) removably connected to said vehicle frame ( 10 ), and two second loading boxes ( 31 );

said first loading boxes ( 21 ) are permitted to be removably coupled to each other to define said second loading surface ( 202 ), and each of said second loading boxes ( 31 ) is permitted to be removably coupled between corresponding two of said first loading boxes ( 21 );

when said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is in the second expanded state, each of said second loading boxes ( 31 ) is removably coupled to each other and between the corresponding two of said first loading boxes ( 21 ) to cooperatively define said third loading surface ( 203 ); and

when said vehicle frame ( 10 ) is in the collapsed state, each of said second loading boxes ( 31 ) is separated from each other and from the corresponding two of said first loading boxes ( 21 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2019
From: HUNG, YI-HSUAN; SHIH, PING-HUNG; LIU, LI-FAN; LIAO, YI-YA; TIAN, KAN-YUAN
To: NATIONAL TAIWAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 051013/0886 →
Priority Claims (2)
TW 108103064 · Jan 28, 2019 · national
TW 108103102 · Jan 28, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200239078A1 · Jul 30, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,502,942