GB1559829A

GB1559829A - Electrically driven vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB1559829A
Application number: GB40483/75A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Lucas Industries Ltd
Current assignee: ZF International UK Ltd
Priority date: 1975-10-03
Filing date: 1975-10-03
Publication date: 1980-01-30
Also published as: JPS5244919A; FR2326306B1; DE2644666A1; ES452093A1; FR2326306A1; IT1072556B

Description

(54) ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN VEHICLES (71) We, LUCAS INDUSTRIES LIMITED a British Company of, Great King Street, Birmingham B19 2XF, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to electrically driven vehicles of the kind having a plurality of electrical storage batteries which are arranged to provide motive power for electrical drive means for the vehicle. The invention is concerned with passenger carrying vehicles particularly though not exclusively taxis, having at least one passenger compartment enclosed within a body.

The object of the invention is to provide an electrically driven vehicle which is particularly strong in areas where strength for safety of the vehicles occupants is important and which allows use of light and easily worked materials for non load bearing parts of the vehicle body.

According to the invention an electrically driven vehicle comprises in combination, a frame in which a battery pack is supported, said frame having major components including an electric drive motor as well as front and rear wheel suspension mechanisms attached to the frame and a body mounted on the frame and including a relatively strong and load bearing sub-frame and a non-load bearing shell formed from a material relatively less strong than that from which said sub-frame is made.

Preferably the vehicle has doors which are constructed in a similar manner, having a reinforcement portion carrying hinges and latch components and a covering of a material relatively less strong than that from which said reinforcement portion is made.

The sub-frame may be connected to the shell through reinforcing parts which are adhesively secured to the shell and fastened to the subframe by bolts.

Conveniently the sub-frame includes hollow section members which also serve as heating ducts leading to a passenger compartment or compartments of the vehicle.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the principle components of an electtrically driven vehicle constructed in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a side elevation view partly in section of a door of the vehicle, Figure 3 is a cross sectional view showing a door hinge, Figure 4 is a cross sectional view showing means of connection between two parts of the body, Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of a connection between the body and part of the sub-frame of the vehicle, Figure 6 shows an alternative construction to Figure 5, and Figure 7 shows a further alternative construction to Figure 5, Figure 8 shows in side elevation a bulkhead containing heater ducting in the vehicle, Figure 9 is a cross section on the line 9-9 in Figure 8, Figure 10 is a front view of the bulkhead in Figure 8 in the direction of arrow 10 in Figure 8.

As shown in Figure 1 the invention is concerned with an electrically driven vehicle of the kind having a battery pack 11 which includes a plurality of individual batteries and an electric motor 1 lea for providing power for driving the front wheels of the vehicle. The battery pack 11 and the electric motor are both shown in outline in Figure 1 of the drawings for the sake of clarity.

The battery pack is contained within a large rectangular space in the centre of the lower chassis component indicated generally at 10 in the drawing. The battery pack is removable when required for replacement purposes but may be charged in situ by application of external electrical power from a suitable charging apparatus. The charging apparatus is not part of the vehicle and it is therefore only practical for the battery pack to be charged when the vehicle is not in use. In public service vehicles operated on a fixed period basis or in the daytime only there is ample opportunity for adequate charging of the battery pack to take place at frequent intervals.

The vehicle illustrated is designed for front wheel drive and these wheels are also steerable.

The vehicle is designed principally as a public service vehicle for use as a taxi but the constructional concept may be applied to other vehicles in which similar structural considerations apply.

The chassis 10 therefore comprises a frame 12 within which is defined the space for the battery pack 11. Cross members 13 extend over this without significantly intruding upon the space occupied by the battery pack. This frame with the cross members 13 is made from strong tubular steel or other rigid form. Secured to the forward end of the frame 12 is a front suspension member 14 which provides a mounting for the electric motor 1 lea. The front suspension member 14 in turn carries suspension wishbones 15 and coiled compression springs 16 for the hubs 17 on which the brake drums are mounted. On these are mounted the wheels. The latter have been omitted for clarity. Also included in the front suspension member 14 are provision for the drive shafts from the electric motor to the front wheels.

At the rear of the vehicle and secured to the frame 12 are two rear spring abutments 18 which bear against coiled compression springs 19 acting upon a rear suspension system including radius arms 20.

On these in turn the rear hubs 21 are mounted.

This rear suspension system is the subject of Pending Patent Application No.

40484/75 (Serial No. 1 558 185).

Mounted upon the chassis frame 10 is a body of the vehicle which defines within it a front driver compartment and a rear passenger compartment. The body comprises two major components comprising a sub-frame indicated generally at 22 and a shell 23.

The sub-frame 22 is made from rigid and relatively strong material such as steel whereas the body shell 23 is constructed from a relatively less strong material such as reinforced glass fibre.

The sub-frame 22 is secured to the chassis 10 at points indicated at 24. Two of these points 24 on each side of the vehicle correspond with the ends of the cross members 13 of the frame 12 and the remaining point on each side is situated on the front suspension member 14. The sub-frame 22 comprises a main floor platform 25 having front and rear sections and steps 26 secured at the sides thereof respectively. The front of the sub-frame includes a beam on which major components of the vehicle are mounted such as the electric motor control unit (not illustrated). Dividing the front and rear sections of the floor is a vertical partition 27, the ends of which are secured to an inverted U-shqned strong frame in the middle of the vehicle which would also act as a roll-over protection bar. At the rear of the floor there are two pillars 29.

The attachment points 24 between the chassis frame 10 and the sub-frame 22 coincide with the forward end of the subframe the lowermost ends of the U-shaped roll over bar 28 and of the pillars 29 respectively.

At one side of the front portion of the floor 25 there is a driving seat 30, fixed in position. The front compartment is moreover divided lengthwise of the vehicle by means of a partition indicated generally at 31 containing heater ducts in a manner to be described.

Mounted on the front beam of the subframe 22 is a steering column and other controls (not shown) suitably positioned in relation to the seat 30.

A rear wall 32 extends between the pillars 29 at the rear of the sub-frame 22. This forms a lower support for a rear seat of the vehicle.

Mounted upon the sub-frame is the other component of the body the shell 23. This is a hollow structure comprising a roof section 33, a front section with a front windscreen aperture 34, and a rear section having side and rear walls 35, 36. The side walls have window openings 37 and the rear wall has a rear window opening 38.

The side walls are furthermore joined by a horizontal platform 39 forming the rigid rear seat of the vehicle. The rear wall 36 is furthermore inclined to form a rigid backrest support portion for the rear seat.

Upholstery material is applied in the form of pads attached to a strip.

The shell is attached to the sub-frame 22 at points indicated at 40. One of these on each side is situated at the top of the pillar 29. Another is situated at the top of the U-shaped member 28 and a further point is on the front of the sub-frame 22.

The vehicle is fitted with four doors, two to the front and two to the rear compartment. Such a door is shown in Figure 2.

This incorporates a rigid frame comprising a horizontal member 41 and a downwardly inclined member 42. At the junction of these a latch bracket 43 is fitted. To this in turn a latch 44 is secured. At the opposite end of each of the members 41, 42 are brackets 45, 46 secured to respective hinges 47. Figure 3 shows such an arrangement.

The horizontal member 41 is made from tubular steel the end of which is flattened to provide a flat end portion 48 secured to the bracket 45 by means of bolts 49. The hinge 47 is bolted to the bracket 45 through an intervening web of material forming part of the inner skin 50 of the door. The other end of the hinge 47 is secured by bolts to the sub-frame front portion or the inverted U-shaped member 28 as the case maybe.

The inner skin 50 of the door is formed from reinforced glass fibre material as is the outer skin 51. These are secured together as indicated by adhesive means at 52.

Also mounted upon the horizontal member 41 within the door is a latch operating device 54a which is connected to the latch by means of a bowden cable 53. An external door latch operating device 54b is also connected to the door latch 44 by means of a further cable 55.

The latch 44 engages in a keeper 56 in the pillar 29 of the sub-frame or the inverted U-shaped member 28 as the case may be.

Figure 4 illustrates an arrangement whereby the body shell 23 has secured to it an additional component of the body 57.

In the example illustrated the side wall 35 has secured below it a rear wing which is the component 57. This has its upper edge flanged and the corresponding lower edge of the side wall 35 is also flanged. Both the flanges extend inwardly towards the centre of the vehicle.

Both are apertured and the apertures are in alignment. Trapped between the flanges is a rubber or other resilient large washer 58, and through the centre thereof and through the aligned apertures passes a bolt 59. This is screw threaded into a nut which is held in a rigid strip. The strip in this case which is indicated at 60 is a plywood strip having metal nuts 61 embedded therein. The plywood strip is secured in place by an overlay member 62 of reinforced glassfibre material adhered to the side 35 of the shell.

With this arrangement it is intended that if the rear wing should receive an impact as in an accident it will tend to break away without however damaging the main shell of the body thus minimising the expense of replacement.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show alternative systems for connecting the sub-frame 22 to the shell 23 of the body. All are concerned with the connection at the point 40 at the top of the pillar 29. In each of the drawings therefore the pillar 29 is so identified. The pillar in each case is hollow and in the construction shown in Figure 5 it has a single aperture at the top. Embedded in the glassfibre shell 23, which in this region has inner and outer skins 63, 64, is a reinforcing plate 65, incorporating or having secured to it a nut 66. The nut 66 is adhered to the interior of the glassfibre shell or may be moulded into it in known manner. A bolt 67 passes through the aperture in the top of the pillar 29 and into the nut 66 thus securing the body shell to the top of the pillar 29. An access hole indicated at 68 is cut in the side of the pillar to allow access for tightening of the bolt 67.

In the construction shown in Figure 6 the top of the pillar is flanged at 69. Embedded in or adhered to the inner and outer skins 63, 64 of the shell 23 is a bracket 70 with a depending gusseted flange 71. The gusseted flange is provided with a nut 72 and the nut is engaged by a bolt 73 passing through an aperture in the upstanding flange 69 of the pillar 29.

In the third alternative construction shown in Figure 7 the pillar 29 has two holes in its top surface. A plate 74 is adhered to the outer skin 64 of the body shell.

The other end of this is bolted to a further plate 75 adhered to the inner skin 63. The plates are bolted together by a bolt 76 which also passes through an aperture in the inner skin 63 and is engaged in a nut 77 in the top of the pillar 29. The pillar is further bolted by means of a bolt 78 to the plate 74 which carries a nut 79. The connection by means of the bolt 76 is however unlike the other connections in that the bolt passes directly through the inner skin 63.

In the other constructions however, the bolted connection is not through the reinforced glassfibre material which is relatively less strong than steel, but instead is applied through the steel components, one of which is adhered to the reinforced glassfibre shell over a relatively large area.

Figures 8, 9 and 11 illustrate the partition 31 adjacent to one side of the driving seat and extending through the centre of the front compartment of the vehicle lengthwise thereof.

The partition has a vertical web 80 along the top of which extends a hollow section beam 81. At the bottom of the web 80 is a further hollow section beam 82. This is open at its ends and communicates with a front compartment 83 and a rear compartment 84 at its ends respectively. In one side of the front compartment 83 is an inlet duct 85. To this is connected a pipe (not shown) leading from a heater device mounted on the sub-frame of the vehicle.

Preferably this is a combustion type of heater though other arrangements may be provided for supplying heated or cooled air to the interior of the compartment 83.

Within the compartment is an adjustable flap 86 for proportioning the air leading to the lower hollow section 82 and to a further outlet from the comparment 83, in the form of a pair of ducts 87 leading to demisting ducts below the windscreen of the body shell.

In the rear compartment 84 there is a further outlet 88 through which heated or cooled air is delivered into the rear passenger compartment of the vehicle. The rear compartment 84 is defined by the partition 27 extending across the vehicle. The front face of this is inclined to form an inclined surface against which the backrest of the front seat engages.

The concept embodied within the construction of this vehicle is that those components which require strength are made from strong material, but others such as the body shell, and door shells are nonload bearing and are therefore made from a less strong material which in this case is reinforced glassfibre material. Other materials may however be substituted but the relationship between the load bearing and non-load bearing parts of the vehicle remains.

The vehicle particularly for use as a taxi is relatively inexpensive to produce and assemble. The principle components on each of the major structures comprising the chassis frame 10, the sub-frame 22 and the shell 23 can be assembled at least in part before these three main components are engaged and secured together.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An electrically driven vehicle comprising a frame in which a battery pack is supported, said frame having major components including an electric drive motor as well as front and rear wheel suspension mechanisms attached to the frame, and a body mounted on the frame and including a relatively strong and load bearing subframe and a non-load bearing shell formed from a material relatively less strong than that from which said sub-frame is made.

2. An electrically driven vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which there are fastening means connecting the frame to said sub-frame and further fastening means connecting said body shell to the sub-frame.

3. An electrically driven vehicle as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2 in which the frame and the sub-frame are of steel and the body shell is of glass fibre.

4. An electrically driven vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the vehicle has doors each having a reinforcement portion carrying hinges and latch components and a covering of a material relatively less strong than that from which said reinforcement portion is made.

5. An electrically driven vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the sub-frame is connected to the shell through reinforcing parts which are adhesively secured to the shell and fastened to the sub-frame by bolts.

6. An electrically driven vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the sub-frame includes hollow section members which also serve as heating ducts leading to a passenger compartment or compartments of the vehicle.

7. An electrically driven vehicle as stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 and 8 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

8. An electrically driven vehicle as claimed in claim 7 and as modified substantially as shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

9. An electrically driven vehicle as claimed in claim 7 and as modified substantially as shown in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (not shown) leading from a heater device mounted on the sub-frame of the vehicle. Preferably this is a combustion type of heater though other arrangements may be provided for supplying heated or cooled air to the interior of the compartment 83. Within the compartment is an adjustable flap 86 for proportioning the air leading to the lower hollow section 82 and to a further outlet from the comparment 83, in the form of a pair of ducts 87 leading to demisting ducts below the windscreen of the body shell. In the rear compartment 84 there is a further outlet 88 through which heated or cooled air is delivered into the rear passenger compartment of the vehicle. The rear compartment 84 is defined by the partition 27 extending across the vehicle. The front face of this is inclined to form an inclined surface against which the backrest of the front seat engages. The concept embodied within the construction of this vehicle is that those components which require strength are made from strong material, but others such as the body shell, and door shells are nonload bearing and are therefore made from a less strong material which in this case is reinforced glassfibre material. Other materials may however be substituted but the relationship between the load bearing and non-load bearing parts of the vehicle remains. The vehicle particularly for use as a taxi is relatively inexpensive to produce and assemble. The principle components on each of the major structures comprising the chassis frame 10, the sub-frame 22 and the shell 23 can be assembled at least in part before these three main components are engaged and secured together. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An electrically driven vehicle comprising a frame in which a battery pack is supported, said frame having major components including an electric drive motor as well as front and rear wheel suspension mechanisms attached to the frame, and a body mounted on the frame and including a relatively strong and load bearing subframe and a non-load bearing shell formed from a material relatively less strong than that from which said sub-frame is made.