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NL2035670B1 - An electric vehicle. - Google Patents

An electric vehicle. Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2035670B1
NL2035670B1 NL2035670A NL2035670A NL2035670B1 NL 2035670 B1 NL2035670 B1 NL 2035670B1 NL 2035670 A NL2035670 A NL 2035670A NL 2035670 A NL2035670 A NL 2035670A NL 2035670 B1 NL2035670 B1 NL 2035670B1
Authority
NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
electric vehicle
chassis
cabin
crash
space frame
Prior art date
Application number
NL2035670A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Lambertus Hendrikus Pierik Gerardus
Original Assignee
Daf Trucks Nv
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daf Trucks Nv filed Critical Daf Trucks Nv
Priority to NL2035670A priority Critical patent/NL2035670B1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2035670B1 publication Critical patent/NL2035670B1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
    • B62D25/08—Front or rear portions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D21/00—Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted
    • B62D21/15—Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body
    • B62D21/152—Front or rear frames

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

Title: An electric vehicle. Abstract An electric vehicle comprises a chassis, a cabin with a dash panel, a cabin suspension for suspending the cabin on the chassis, a forward compartment extending from the dash panel towards a front end of the electric vehicle, a crash impact absorbing arrangement arranged in the forward compartment. A wheel suspension assembly is present for suspending a front axle carrying front wheels of the electric vehicle to the chassis. A driver’s seat is provided in the cabin and is arranged rearward of the front axle. The chassis is a space frame chassis. The front axle is suspended on a front end of the space frame chassis such that the space frame chassis only extends from the front axle rearwards. The wheel suspension assembly comprises an independent suspension box configured for independently suspending the front axle, wherein the crash impact absorbing arrangement is connected to the independent suspension box.

Description

P135523NL00
Title: An electric vehicle.
The invention relates to an electric vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.
Such an electric vehicle is for example known from
WO2021/175560A1. In this known electric vehicle the crash impact absorbing arrangement comprises a front structure having a lower portion attached to the frame and an upper portion arranged between the cabin and the front end of the vehicle, the front structure being configured to collapse towards a rear end of the vehicle when a force directed towards the rear end of the vehicle acting on the upper portion of the front structure reaches a predefined threshold force. The rear structure has a lower portion attached to the frame and an upper portion. The rear structure is configured to withstand a force directed towards the rear end of the vehicle acting on the upper portion of the rear structure exceeding the predefined threshold force.
At least one deformable energy absorbing structure is arranged between the upper portion of the front structure and the upper portion of the rear structure and is configured to transfer a force directed towards the rear end of the vehicle acting on the upper portion of the front structure to the upper portion of the rear structure, while being deformed to allow movement of the upper portion of the front structure towards the upper portion of the rear structure. First and second high-strength material structures, for example first and second struts are attached to the frame and extend from the frame to the upper portion of the rear structure to provide additional strength to the rear structure. The crash impact absorbing arrangement of this known electric vehicle is described as not only absorbing the impact energy of a forward collision in a controlled way, but also prevents pitching of the vehicle which would change the impact height of the cabin to the upper barrier in case of a trailer back - vehicle impact test scenario. Further this known crash impact absorbing arrangement is described as functionally replacing the internal combustion engine of a conventional vehicle in terms of protecting the integrity of the cabin in the event of a forward collision, in particular a forward collision into the back of a trailer. It is a continuing desire in the field to further improve the crash impact absorbing arrangement so that an impact between a vehicle and a standard truck trailer leads to less deformations of the cabin and thus consequently leads to a reduced risk of occupants of the cabin to get injured. In particular, there is a desire to improve the crash safety for so-called low entry cabin vehicles, that have a cabin floor with a floor-to-road surface height of less than 1 meter. In case of such a low entry cabin vehicle there is a misalignment in height between the cabin floor and the trailer back. As a consequence an impact between the low entry cabin vehicle and a standard truck trailer could potentially lead to large deformations of the cabin and thus consequently lead to a reduced survival space of the occupants.
It is an object of the invention to at least partly meet these desires.
According to the invention this object is obtained by providing an electric vehicle according to claim 1. The invention is partly based on the insight that the frame of the known electric vehicle extends in forward direction of the crash impact absorbing arrangement which could make the forward end of the frame the vehicle component that is deformed by the crash impact before the crash impact absorbing arrangement, which could lead to a higher risk of injury for cabin occupants. By in accordance with the invention using a space frame chassis which only extends from the front axle rearwards it is the crash impact absorbing arrangement that is deformed before the impact reaches the space frame chassis. In addition, since the crash impact absorbing arrangement is connected to the independent suspension box which suspends the front axle to the chassis, the loads of the crash impact are at least partly absorbed by the independent suspension box which provides an additional crash impact absorption when compared to the known electric vehicle in which the crash impact absorbing arrangement is directly connected to the frame. In comparison with a ladder frame which is normally used for a vehicle a space frame chassis is a stiffer chassis as a result of which crash impact loads transferred from the independent suspension box to the space frame chassis lead to a lower risk of frame damage and thus to a lower risk of injuries for cabin occupants.
In an embodiment of an electric vehicle according to the invention the crash impact absorbing arrangement comprises three crash impact absorbing sections, each crash impact absorbing section being connected to the space frame chassis and at their rear side being connected onto the independent suspension box, each crash impact absorbing section being separate from the cabin, the three crash impact absorbing sections comprising: - a lower deformable front-underrun prevention section being configured to collapse towards a rear end of the electric vehicle in the event of a front impact; - a middle towing away section being configured for transferring loads while towing-away the electric vehicle; - a deformable top trailer back impact absorption section being configured to collapse towards a rear end of the electric vehicle in the event of a front impact. In this manner the crash impact absorbing arrangement of the inventive electric vehicle can provide the electric vehicle with crash compatibility with e.g. passenger cars as well as crash compatibility with trailers backs, towing-away functionality and self-protection of the vehicle, for instance wile maneuvering the vehicle. In addition, since the crash impact load paths in the inventive electric vehicle are transferred from the crash impact absorbing arrangement through the independent suspension box to the space frame chassis the crash impact loads are substantially not transmitted through the cabin structure allowing a reduction in weight of the cabin structures such as cabin floor longitudinal members, side sills and door reinforcements. Such a weight reduction is beneficial for fuel economy.
Preferably each of three crash impact absorbing sections is substantially arranged in front of the space frame chassis.
In a further embodiment of an electric vehicle according to the invention the deformable top trailer back impact absorption section is connected to the space frame chassis and/or the independent suspension box by means of a triangular construction. In this manner not only a reliable connection between the top trailer back impact absorption section and the space frame chassis and/or the independent suspension box is obtained but also crash impact loads are at least substantially transferred from the top trailer back impact absorption section to the space frame chassis and/or the independent suspension box and at least to a lesser extent through the cabin.
In another embodiment of an electric vehicle according to the invention the electric vehicle is a low entry cabin vehicle having a cabin floor with a floor-to-road surface height of less than 1 meter or a N1 class electric vehicle according to Directive 2007/46/EC. The invention is in particular useful when used in so-called low entry cabin vehicles.
In a still further embodiment of an electric vehicle according to the invention the deformable top trailer back impact absorption section comprises upper frontal impact barrier catch elements, which can at least partly absorb the crash impact against e.g. high barriers or obstacles.
In a further embodiment of an electric vehicle according to the invention the cabin suspension comprises silent blocks and/or spring dampers. In the inventive electric vehicle a cabin tilting mechanism can be dispensed with and a cabin suspension comprising silent blocks and/or spring dampers can be used. Since the loads that are typically introduced by tilting of the cabin can be avoided by the invention a further weight reduction of the cabin structure can be realized, e.g. by reducing of the cross-sections of the cabin floor members, which can result in better fuel economy.
The invention will be further explained with reference to the 5 Figures, in which a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an electric vehicle according to the invention is shown:
Fig. 1 schematically shows a side view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle according to the invention;
Fig. 2 schematically shows a side view of the electric vehicle of
Figure 1 in which a towing-away adapter is connected to the electric vehicle;
Figs. 3A, 3B schematically shows a front view of the electric vehicle of Figure 1, respectively with and without the crash impact absorbing arrangement;
Fig. 4 schematically shows in perspective the space frame chassis, the crash impact absorbing arrangement arranged and the independent suspension box of an embodiment of an vehicle according to the invention;
Fig. 5 schematically shows a top view of the vehicle according to
Figure 1 indicating the deformable top trailer back impact absorption section;
Fig. 6 schematically shows a top view of the vehicle according to
Figure 1 indicating the middle towing away section; and
Fig. 7 schematically shows a top view of the vehicle according to
Figure 1 indicating the lower deformable front-underrun prevention section.
In Fig. 1 schematically a side view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle 1 according to the invention is shown. The electric vehicle 1 preferably is a low entry cabin vehicle having a cabin floor 1A with a floor- to-road surface height of less than 1 meter or a N1 class electric vehicle according to Directive 2007/46/EC. The electric vehicle 1 comprises a space frame chassis 2 and a cabin 3 with a dash panel 4. The cabin 3 is suspended on the space frame chassis 2 by means of silent blocks and/or spring dampers 5. A forward compartment 6 of the electric vehicle 1 extends from the dash panel 4 towards a front end 7 of the electric vehicle 1.
The electric vehicle 1 comprises an independent suspension box 8 configured for independently suspending a front axle 9 carrying front wheels of the electric vehicle 1 to the space frame chassis 2. According to the invention the front axle 9 is suspended on a front end of the space frame chassis 2 such that the space frame chassis 2 only extends from the front 10 axle 9 rearwards, that is the space frame chassis 2 does not extend forward of the front axle 9. As indicated in Figures 1 and 2 a driver’s seat 11 is provided in the cabin 3 and is arranged rearward of the front axle 9.
A crash impact absorbing arrangement 12, to be described in more detail below, is arranged in the forward compartment 6 and is connected to the independent suspension box 8.
As indicated in the embodiment shown in the Figures the crash impact absorbing arrangement 12 comprises three crash impact absorbing sections 13, 14, 15, each connected at their rear side onto the independent suspension box 8 and to the space frame chassis 2. It is noted that each crash impact absorbing section 13, 14, 15 is separate from the cabin 3, so that crash impact loads are substantially not transferred to the cabin 3.
The three crash impact absorbing sections 13, 14, 15 of the crash impact absorbing arrangement 12 are described below.
The lower one of the three crash impact absorbing sections of the crash impact absorbing arrangement 12 is a lower deformable front- underrun prevention section 13 which is configured to collapse towards a rear end of the electric vehicle 1 in the event of a front impact with for example a passenger car. The middle one of the three crash impact absorbing sections of the crash impact absorbing arrangement 12 is a middle towing away section 14 which is configured for transferring loads while towing-away the electric vehicle 1. Please note that typically a towing- away adapter 14A is needs to be screwed on the middle towing away section 14 for towing away the electric vehicle 1 as indicated in Figure 2. The upper one of the three crash impact absorbing sections of the crash impact absorbing arrangement 12 is a deformable top trailer back impact absorption section 15 which is configured to collapse towards a rear end of the electric vehicle 1 in the event of a front impact with for example a trailer back or an obstacle that is positioned at a higher level from the road surface.
The deformable top trailer back impact absorption section 15 comprises upper frontal impact barrier catch elements 16, 17 arranged for absorbing crash impacts resulting from crashes against high obstacles. In case of crash impacts the three crash impact absorbing sections 13, 14, 15 of the crash impact absorbing arrangement 12 can deform independently from each other. The lower deformable front-underrun prevention section 13, the middle towing away section 14 and the deformable top trailer back impact absorption section 15 are arranged in front of the space frame chassis 2.
As indicated in Figure 4 the deformable top trailer back impact absorption section 15 is connected to the space frame chassis 2 and/or the independent suspension box8 by means of a triangular construction 18, such that crash impact loads are diverted from the cabin 3 towards the space frame chassis 2 and/ or independent suspension box 8.

Claims (7)

ConclusiesConclusions 1. Een elektrisch voertuig omvattende een chassis, een cabine met een dashboardpaneel, een cabine-ophanging om de cabine aan het chassis op te hangen, een voorste compartiment dat zich uitstrekt van het dashboardpaneel naar een voorkant van het elektrische voertuig, een botsing-absorberende inrichting aangebracht in het voorste compartiment, en een wielophangingssamenstel voor het ophangen van een vooras die voorwielen van het elektrische voertuig draagt aan het chassis, en waarbij een bestuurdersstoel 1s voorzien in de cabine, waarbij de bestuurdersstoel achter de vooras is geplaatst, met het kenmerk dat het chassis een spaceframe-chassis is, dat de vooras zodanig aan een vooreinde van het spaceframe-chassis is opgehangen dat het spaceframe-chassis zich alleen naar achteren vanaf de vooras uitstrekt, en dat het wielophangingssamenstel een onafhankelijke ophangingskast omvat die is geconfigureerd voor het onafhankelijk ophangen van de vooras, waarbij de botsing-absorberende inrichting is verbonden met de onafhankelijke ophangingskast.1. An electric vehicle comprising a chassis, a cab having a dashboard panel, a cab suspension for suspending the cab from the chassis, a front compartment extending from the dashboard panel to a front of the electric vehicle, a crash absorbing device disposed in the front compartment, and a suspension assembly for suspending a front axle carrying front wheels of the electric vehicle from the chassis, and a driver's seat 1s provided in the cab, the driver's seat being disposed behind the front axle, characterised in that the chassis is a space frame chassis, the front axle is suspended from a front end of the space frame chassis such that the space frame chassis extends rearwardly from the front axle only, and the suspension assembly includes an independent suspension box configured to independently suspend the front axle, the crash absorbing device being connected to the independent suspension box. 2. Een elektrisch voertuig volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de botsing- absorberende inrichting drie botsing-absorberende secties omvat, waarbij elke botsing-absorberende sectie is verbonden met het spaceframe-chassis en aan de achterzijde daarvan is verbonden met de onafhankelijke ophangingskast, waarbij elke botsing-absorberende sectie gescheiden is van de cabine, waarbij de drie botsing-absorberende secties omvatten: - een onderste vervormbare sectie ter voorkoming van onderdoor- rijden aan de voorzijde, die is geconfigureerd om te bezwijken naar de achterkant van het elektrische voertuig in het geval van een frontale botsing;2. An electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the crash absorbing device comprises three crash absorbing sections, each crash absorbing section being connected to the space frame chassis and connected to the independent suspension box at the rear thereof, each crash absorbing section being separate from the cabin, the three crash absorbing sections comprising: - a lower front underrun prevention deformable section configured to collapse towards the rear of the electric vehicle in the event of a frontal collision; - een wegsleep-middengedeelte geconfigureerd voor het overbrengen van belastingen tijdens het wegslepen van het elektrische voertuig; - een vervormbare sectie voor het absorberen van een botsing op een achterkant van een trailer, die is geconfigureerd om in te bezwijken naar de achterkant van het elektrische voertuig in het geval van een frontale botsing.- a towing center section configured to transfer loads during towing of the electric vehicle; - a deformable section for absorbing an impact on a rear of a trailer, configured to collapse toward the rear of the electric vehicle in the event of a frontal impact. 3. Het elektrisch voertuig volgens conclusie 2, waarbij de vervormbare sectie voor het absorberen van een botsing op een achterkant van een trailer door middel van een driehoekige constructie is verbonden met het spaceframe-chassis en/of de onafhankelijke ophangingskast.3. The electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the deformable section for absorbing a collision on a rear of a trailer is connected to the space frame chassis and/or the independent suspension box by means of a triangular structure. 4. Het elektrisch voertuig volgens conclusie 2 of 3, waarbij elk van de drie botsing-absorberende secties in hoofdzaak vóór het spaceframe-chassis is opgesteld.4. The electric vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein each of the three impact absorbing sections is disposed substantially forward of the spaceframe chassis. 5. Het elektrisch voertuig volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het elektrische voertuig een cabinevoertuig met lage instap is met een cabinevloer met een vloer-tot-wegoppervlaktehoogte van minder dan 1 meter, of een elektrisch voertuig van klasse N1 volgens Richtlijn 2007/46/EG.5. The electric vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electric vehicle is a low-entry cab vehicle having a cab floor with a floor-to-road surface height of less than 1 metre, or an electric vehicle of class N1 according to Directive 2007/46/EC. 6. Het elektrisch voertuig volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de vervormbare sectie voor het absorberen van een botsing op een achterkant van een trailer bovenste frontale botsing barrière- opvangelementen omvat.6. The electric vehicle of any preceding claim, wherein the deformable section for absorbing an impact on a rear of a trailer comprises upper frontal impact barrier absorbing elements. 7. Het elektrisch voertuig volgens een der voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de cabine-ophanging torsiebussen en/of veerdempers omvat.7. The electric vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cabin suspension comprises torsion bushings and/or spring dampers.
NL2035670A 2023-08-24 2023-08-24 An electric vehicle. NL2035670B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2035670A NL2035670B1 (en) 2023-08-24 2023-08-24 An electric vehicle.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2035670A NL2035670B1 (en) 2023-08-24 2023-08-24 An electric vehicle.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
NL2035670B1 true NL2035670B1 (en) 2025-03-06

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ID=88413584

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
NL2035670A NL2035670B1 (en) 2023-08-24 2023-08-24 An electric vehicle.

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3444138A1 (en) * 2017-08-17 2019-02-20 Volvo Car Corporation Vehicle
WO2021175560A1 (en) 2020-03-03 2021-09-10 Volvo Truck Corporation Vehicle with crash impact absorbing arrangement
WO2022023443A2 (en) * 2020-07-29 2022-02-03 Piëch Ip Ag Motor vehicle of modular design and various modules for such a motor vehicle
US11345409B1 (en) * 2020-12-18 2022-05-31 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Canopy windshield retention

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3444138A1 (en) * 2017-08-17 2019-02-20 Volvo Car Corporation Vehicle
WO2021175560A1 (en) 2020-03-03 2021-09-10 Volvo Truck Corporation Vehicle with crash impact absorbing arrangement
WO2022023443A2 (en) * 2020-07-29 2022-02-03 Piëch Ip Ag Motor vehicle of modular design and various modules for such a motor vehicle
US11345409B1 (en) * 2020-12-18 2022-05-31 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Canopy windshield retention

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