Motor nodes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023133075-A1
Application number	US-202217975381-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 27, 2022
Priority date	Nov 2, 2021
Publication date	May 4, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Integrated vehicle structures are provided herein. An integrated vehicle structure can include an enclosure portion configured to house an electric motor and a plurality of extended portions extending from the enclosure portion. The enclosure portion and the plurality of extended portions can be load-bearing and configured to bear vehicle loads. The extended portions of the integrated vehicle structures can include a connection portion configured to connect with another load-bearing structure to at least receive or transmit loads. The plurality of extended portions can be configured to transfer vehicle loads along physically separate paths. A portion of the enclosure portion can define an opening configured to allow a drive shaft to connect the electric motor to a wheel. The enclosure portion can be configured with an opening for allowing the installation and removal of the electric motor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An integrated vehicle structure comprising:
an enclosure portion configured to house an electric motor; and a plurality of extended portions extending from the enclosure portion, wherein the enclosure portion and the plurality of extended portions are load-bearing and configured to bear vehicle loads.

2 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the extended portions includes a connection portion configured to connect with another load-bearing structure to at least receive or transmit loads.

3 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 2 , wherein the connection portion is configured to connect with the other load-bearing structure by at least an adhesive connection, a bolted connection, or a welded connection.

4 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 3 , wherein the connection portion includes at least a tongue or a groove for the adhesive connection.

5 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 3 , wherein the connection portion includes at least a threaded bolt hole or a protruding bolt portion for the bolted connection.

6 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 2 , wherein the other load-bearing structure includes a safety structure.

7 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 6 , wherein the safety structure includes at least a crash rail or a safety cell.

8 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 2 , wherein the other load-bearing structure includes a suspension structure.

9 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 8 , wherein the suspension structure includes at least a control arm or a suspension damper system.

10 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of extended portions are configured to transfer vehicle loads along physically separate paths.

11 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 10 , wherein at least two of the physically separate paths diverge from each other.

12 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle loads transferred along the at least two of the physically separate paths include crash loads.

13 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of extended portions includes at least three extended portions.

14 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of extended portions includes at least four extended portions.

15 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of extended portions includes at least five extended portions.

16 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the enclosure portion defines an opening configured to allow a drive shaft to connect the electric motor to a wheel.

17 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure portion is configured with an opening for allowing the installation and removal of the electric motor.

18 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 17 , wherein a part of the enclosure portion surrounding the opening is configured to attach to a part of the electric motor.

19 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 18 , wherein the part of the electric motor includes a stator casing.

20 . The integrated vehicle structure of claim 18 , wherein the part of the enclosure portion surrounding the opening includes a vibration damper interface configured to accept a vibration damper.

Assignees

• Divergent Tech Inc

Inventors

• Czinger Kevin Robert
• Martinez Antonio Bernard

Classifications

• B62D29/046

  Combined superstructure and frame, i.e. monocoque constructions · CPC title

• B62D21/11 Primary

  with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} · CPC title

• B62D25/08

  Front or rear portions {(sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11)} · CPC title

• B62D21/09 Primary

  Means for mounting load bearing surfaces · CPC title

• B60K1/00

  Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) · CPC title