Systems and methods for vehicle subassembly and fabrication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021261197-A1
Application number	US-202117176457-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2021
Priority date	Jul 2, 2014
Publication date	Aug 26, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle chassis is provided. The vehicle chassis may comprise one or more vehicle chassis modules or chassis substructures that are formed from a plurality of customized chassis nodes and connecting tubes. The customized chassis nodes and connecting tubes may be formed of one or more metal and/or non-metal materials. The customized chassis nodes may be formed with connecting features to which additional vehicle panels or structures may be permanently or removeably attached. The vehicle chassis modules or chassis substructures may be interchangeably and removeably connected to provide a vehicle chassis having a set of predetermined chassis safety or performance characteristics.

First claim

1 . A structure for a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of panels or tubes having honeycomb shaped or other geometric or organic internal structures; and a plurality of joint members, each joint member configured to mate with at least a subset of the plurality of panels or tubes to form a three-dimensional structure, wherein the internal structures are formed by 3-D printing.

2 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional structure is formed to meet safety considerations for the vehicle.

3 . The structure of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of panels or tubes or the plurality of joint members is designed to break or deform in a controlled and directed manner upon a collision of the vehicle exceeding a threshold force.

4 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of joint members are formed by 3-D printing

5 . The structures of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of joint members are connected via 3-D printed features, including bosses and channels designed to created sealed chambers allowing injection of adhesive, and introduction of vacuum to ensure proper adhesive application.

6 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of tubes mate with at least one joint member.

7 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one panel of the plurality of panels comprises mounting features to be connected with at least one joint member or other panel.

8 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein at least a subset of the three-dimensional structure is removable and interchangeable with another set of components to provide the vehicle with desired safety or performance characteristics.

9 .- 17 . (canceled)

18 . A structure for a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of panels, extrusions, castings, moldings or tubes; and a plurality of joint members, each joint member configured to mate with at least a subset of the plurality of panels, extrusions, castings, moldings or tubes to form a three-dimensional structure, wherein the joint members are formed by 3-D printing, and wherein the 3-D printed joint members have 3D printed internal features to support the application of adhesives or introduction of fasteners for connection to the plurality of panels, extrusions, castings, moldings or tubes.

19 . The structure of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of panels, extrusions, castings, moldings or tubes are enabled to pass through the joint member, enabling structural continuity of that structural component, while still allowing the joint member to be joined to the component with adhesives or fasteners enabled by 3-D printed features.

20 . A structure for a vehicle, comprising:
one or more extrusions that are trimmed after extrusion to enable close fit to a body surface wherein the one or more extrusions allow passage of vehicle components through them; and one or more joint members, each joint member configured to mate with at least a subset of the plurality of extrusions to form a three-dimensional structure,

21 . The structure of claim 20 , wherein the three-dimensional structure is formed to meet safety considerations for the vehicle.

22 . The structure of claim 21 , wherein at least one of the extrusions or the plurality of joint members is designed to break or deform in a controlled and directed manner upon a collision of the vehicle exceeding a threshold force.

23 . The structure of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of joint members are formed by 3-D printing.

24 . The structure of claim 20 , wherein a plurality of joint members mate with at least one extrusion.

25 . The structures of claim 20 , wherein the one or more extrusions are connected via 3-D printed features, including bosses and channels designed to create sealed chambers allowing injection of adhesive, and introduction of vacuum to ensure proper adhesive application joining them to the joint members.

26 . A structure for a vehicle, comprising:
one or more structural panels; and one or more 3-D printed locating components, each 3-D printed locating component configured to mate with one or more structural panels to form a three-dimensional structure.

27 . The structure of claim 26 , wherein the three-dimensional tolerance is maintained by at least one of the 3-D printed locating components during adhesive setup or during the structural life of the vehicle.

28 . The 3-D printed locating components of claim 27 with the internal 3-D printed features to enable the delivery of adhesive and provide for sealing and evacuation of air to create a vacuum in advance of adhesive introduction.

29 . The structure of claim 26 , wherein at least one of the 3-D printed locating components further provides additional locations for mounting and connection to other components.

30 . The structure of claim 26 , wherein at least one of the 3-D printed locating components further provides manufacturing locating features for figuring or automated assembly.

31 . A method of fabricating a vehicle, the method comprising:
designing a vehicle chassis comprising (1) one or more connecting tubes, extrusions, molded parts, cast parts, or panels, and (2) one or more joint members, by incorporating one or more safety considerations into a design of the vehicle chassis; determining a stress direction and magnitude to be exerted by the one or more connecting tubes or panels at the one or more joint members; and manufacturing the one or more joint members, each joint member having a configuration that (1) supports the stress direction and magnitude, and (2) incorporates the one or more safety considerations.

32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the manufacturing of the one or more joint members comprises 3-D printing the one or more joint members.

33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the one or more connecting tubes, extrusions, molded parts, cast parts, or panels are joined together by adhesive introduced or managed via 3-D printed features.

34 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the one or more connecting tubes, extrusions, molded parts, cast parts, or panels are joined together by fastening surfaces which are formed via 3-D printing.

35 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the one or more connecting tubes or panels comprise a honeycomb structure.

36 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the one more joint members comprise a honeycomb structure.

37 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the joint member is configured to cause the one or more connecting tubes or panels, or the one or more joint members, to break or deform in a controlled and directed manner upon a collision of the vehicle exceeding a threshold force.

Assignees

• Divergent Tech Inc

Inventors

• Czinger Kevin Robert
• Balzer William Bradley
• Penmetsa Praveen Varma
• Omohundro Zachary Meyer
• O'Brien Matthew Michael
• Tenhouten Broc William
• HOYLE Richard Winston

Classifications

• B22F10/10

  Formation of a green body · CPC title

• B22F5/10 Primary

  of articles with cavities or holes, not otherwise provided for in the preceding subgroups · CPC title

• B22F2999/00

  Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy · CPC title

• B22F2998/10

  Processes characterised by the sequence of their steps · CPC title

• G06F30/15

  Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design · CPC title