Vehicle corner modules and systems and methods for installation thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11465699-B1
Application number	US-202117555459-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2021
Priority date	Jun 4, 2021
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

Vehicle corner modules (VCMs) connectable to a VCM-connection interface of a reference-frame of a vehicle platform, for regulating motion of a vehicle. When a wheel is mounted on a wheel-hub assembly of the VCM, a vehicle-connection interface of the VCM is disposed within a cylindrical footprint of the wheel. At least one of the at least one subsystem of the VCM is accommodated between the wheel-hub assembly and the vehicle-connection interface. Vehicle platforms are connectable to the VCMs. The connection of the vehicle platform to the VCM may include connection of subsystems of the VCM to electronic or flow subsystems mounted on the vehicle platform by connection of two portions of a multi-interface connection-element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle corner module (VCM) connectable to a VCM-connection interface of a reference-frame of a vehicle platform, for regulating motion of a vehicle, the vehicle including at least one power supply, the VCM comprising:
a sub-frame including a vehicle-connection interface for reversible mechanical connection of the VCM to the VCM-connection interface of the reference frame;
a wheel-hub assembly comprising a wheel-hub adapted for mounting of a wheel thereon; and
at least one subsystem of the vehicle, mounted onto the sub-frame, the at least one subsystem being selected from the group of subsystems consisting of a drive subsystem, a steering subsystem, a suspension subsystem, and a braking subsystem,
wherein, when a wheel is mounted on the wheel-hub assembly, the vehicle-connection interface is disposed within a cylindrical footprint of the wheel, and
wherein at least one of the at least one subsystem is accommodated between the wheel-hub assembly and the vehicle-connection interface, and
wherein the VCM further comprises at least one connector for connection to the at least one power supply of the vehicle, such that, when the VCM is connected to the vehicle, the at least one power supply powers the at least one subsystem.

2. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein, when the sub-frame is connected to the reference-frame by engagement of the vehicle-connection interface with the VCM-connection interface, the vehicle-connection interface is disposed between the wheel and the reference-frame.

3. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein, when the sub-frame is connected to the reference-frame by engagement of the vehicle-connection interface with the VCM-connection interface, the vehicle-connection interface is disposed at a height between a height of an upper surface of the reference-frame and a height of a lower surface of the reference-frame.

4. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one subsystem comprises at least one of:
a subsystem disposed between the wheel-hub assembly and the vehicle-connection interface; and
a subsystem mounted onto a portion of the sub-frame adapted, when the sub-frame is connected to the reference-frame, to be disposed within the reference frame, between upper and lower surfaces of the reference frame.

5. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein all of the subsystems in the plurality of subsystems are disposed between the wheel-hub assembly and the vehicle-connection interface.

6. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein connection of the sub-frame to the reference-frame by engagement of the vehicle-connection interface with the VCM-connection interface is carried out when the vehicle-connection interface of the VCM is disposed at a height of the reference-frame.

7. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein the sub-frame is adapted for attachment to a flat reference-frame which is devoid of raised connection portions disposed above an upper surface of the reference-frame or below a lower surface of the reference-frame.

8. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein the sub-frame includes a second connection interface, adapted for connection to a vehicle assembly coupled to the reference-frame.

9. A method for installing a Vehicle Corner Module (VCM) according to claim 1 on a vehicle platform of a vehicle, the method comprising:
aligning the vehicle-connection interface of the sub-frame of the VCM with a reference-frame of the vehicle-platform, such that the vehicle-connection interface is disposed between upper and lower surfaces of the reference frame; and
without changing the height alignment between the vehicle-connection interface of the VCM and the reference-frame, mechanically connecting the VCM to the reference-frame by engagement of the vehicle-connection interface with a VCM-connection interface of the reference frame.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising connecting the VCM to multiple electronic or flow subsystems of the vehicle by connecting a VCM-portion of a multi-interface connection-element, mounted on the sub-frame, to a vehicle-platform portion of the multi-interface connection-element, forming part of the vehicle platform.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the multiple electronic and/or flow subsystems is selected from the subsystem group consisting of the power supply, a control-circuit, a computerized controller, a network bus, a network interface, a coolant flow subsystem, an oil flow subsystem, and a brake-fluid flow subsystem.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the mechanically connecting comprises pushing the VCM laterally, in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the reference-frame, for the vehicle-connection interface to engage the VCM-connection interface.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the mechanically connecting comprises placing fasteners which engage the vehicle-connection interface and the VCM-connection interface.

14. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein the at least one subsystem comprises a suspension subsystem, disposed between the wheel-hub assembly and the vehicle-connection interface.

15. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein the VCM is devoid of a steering subsystem, and includes a drive subsystem.

16. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein the VCM is devoid of a drive subsystem, and includes a steering subsystem.

17. The VCM of claim 1 , wherein at least one of camber, caster, and toe angle of the wheel is adjustable by making adjustments to the engagement between the vehicle-connection interface and the VCM-connection interface, when the VCM is connected to the vehicle platform.

18. A vehicle corner module (VCM) connectable to a VCM-connection interface of a reference-frame of a vehicle platform, for regulating motion of a vehicle, the VCM comprising:
a sub-frame including a vehicle-connection interface for reversible mechanical connection of the VCM to the VCM-connection interface of the reference frame;
a wheel-hub assembly comprising a wheel-hub adapted for mounting of a wheel thereon;
at least one subsystem of the vehicle, mounted onto the sub-frame, the at least one subsystem being selected from the group of subsystems consisting of a drive subsystem, a steering subsystem, a suspension subsystem, and a braking subsystem;
a VCM-portion of a multi-interface connection-element, mounted onto the sub-frame and adapted for connection to a vehicle-platform-portion of the multi-interface connection-element, the vehicle-platform-portion being mounted onto the reference-frame of the vehicle platform and connected to multiple electronic or flow subsystems of the vehicle,
wherein, when a wheel is mounted on the wheel-hub assembly, the vehicle-connection interface is disposed within a cylindrical footprint of the wheel,
wherein at least one of the at least one subsystem is accommodated between the wheel-hub assembly and the vehicle-connection interface,
wherein the VCM-portion of the multi-interface connection-element includes multiple connection interfaces for connection of the VCM-portion to the vehicle-platform-portion, thereby to connect the VCM to each of the multiple electronic subsystems of the vehicle, and
wherein each of the multiple electronic or flow subsystems is selected from the group consisting of a power supply of the vehicle, a control-circuit of the vehicle, a computerized controller of the vehicle, a network bus of the vehicle, a network interface of the vehicle, a coolant flow subsystem of the vehicle, an oil flow subsystem of the vehicle, and a brake-fluid flow subsystem of the vehicle.

19. The VCM of claim 18 , wherein the at least one subsystem comprises a suspension subsyst

Assignees

• Ree Automotive Ltd

Inventors

• Sardes Ahishay
• Goldenstain Zohar
• Aknin Amit
• Avigur Eylon
• Zohar Gal
• Oisgeld Michael
• Schindler Tomer
• Dekel Ran
• Segev Tomer
• Starik Eran

Classifications

• B62D65/04 Primary

  Joining preassembled modular units composed of sub-units performing diverse functions, e.g. engine and bonnet (B62D65/06 - B62D65/16 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62D63/025 Primary

  Modular vehicles (superstructures for busses having modular sections B62D31/025) · CPC title

• B60R16/0231

  Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle (monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P) · CPC title

• B62D65/12

  the sub-units or components being suspensions, brakes or wheel units · CPC title

• B60R16/08

  fluid · CPC title