Systems, methods, and devices for an automobile door or window

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11613312-B2
Application number	US-202117189471-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2021
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Mar 28, 2023
Grant date	Mar 28, 2023

Abstract

A trailer truck is the combination of a truck and one or more trailers used to haul freight. A trailer attaches to the truck via a trailer coupling (hitch), with much of its weight borne by the truck. The result is that both the truck and the trailer will have a distinctly different design than a rigid truck and trailer. Exemplary vehicles are provided, such as heavy duty trucks having truck bodies with improved aerodynamic characteristics, including improved drag coefficients.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a body comprising a nose section, a windshield, and a roof, wherein the nose section comprises an upper portion and a lower portion;
a cabin located within the body, the cabin comprising a seat;
a door comprising a width for providing ingress and egress to and from the cabin; and
a bisecting plane that bisects a width of the vehicle,
wherein the lower portion defines a first slope angle between about 0° and about 6° taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,
wherein the upper portion defines a second slope angle between about 24° and about 34° taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,
wherein the windshield defines a third slope angle between about 32° and about 42° taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,
wherein the roof defines a fourth slope angle between about 71° and about 81° taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,
wherein a majority of the width of the door is unobstructed by the seat.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle has a drag coefficient that is between about 0.42 and about 0.46.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor and an electric drive train.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the width of the door is completely unobstructed by the seat.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the seat is at least two feet from the majority of the width of the door.

6. A vehicle, comprising:
a body comprising a nose section, a windshield, and a roof, wherein the nose section comprises an upper portion and a lower portion;
a cabin located within the body, the cabin comprising a seat and a sleeper;
a door comprising a width located on the body for providing ingress and egress to and from the cabin; and
a bisecting plane that bisects a width of the vehicle,
wherein the lower portion defines a first slope angle between about 0° and 6° taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,
wherein the upper portion defines a second slope angle between about 20° and about 30° taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,
wherein the windshield defines a third slope angle between about 31° and about 41° taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,
wherein the roof defines a fourth slope angle between about 42° and 52° taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,
wherein a majority of the width of the door is unobstructed by the seat.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the vehicle has a drag coefficient that is between about 0.36 and about 0.40.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 , further comprising an electric motor and an electric drive train.

9. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the width of the door is completely unobstructed by the seat.

10. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the seat is at least two feet from the majority of the width of the door.

Assignees

• Nikola Corp

Inventors

• Milton Trevor R
• Jennes Stephen
• Scholten Markus

Classifications

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title

• B60K6/26

  characterised by the motors or the generators · CPC title

• B60J5/062

  for utility vehicles or public transport (B60J5/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05D15/0604

  allowing an additional movement (E05D15/10 takes precedence; raising wings before sliding E05D15/565) · CPC title

• B60L2220/46

  Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel · CPC title