# US 11,440,588 B2 · Vehicle chassis for an electrically powered vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,588 B2 - Document ID: US11440588B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/236,482 - Filed: 2021-04-21 - Published: 2021-08-19 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-11 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Thomas Gerhards; Ralf Hintzen; Daniel Mainz; Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440588B2 ## CPC - B62D 21/03: transverse members providing body support - B60G 3/00: Resilient suspensions for a single wheel (pivoted suspensions arms per se, attachment thereof to sprung part of the vehicle, buffer means for limiting movement of arms B60G7/00; {rigid axle suspensions B60G9/00;} characterised by arrangement, location or type of springs B60G11/00) - B60G 11/225: {Neidhart type rubber springs} - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - B60K 7/0007: {the motor being electric} - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries} - B62D 21/11: with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} - B62D 21/12: assembled from readily detachable parts - B62D 27/02: rigid - B60G 2202/142: subjected to shear, e.g. Neidhart type - B60K 2001/0438: {Arrangement under the floor} - B60K 2007/0038: {the motor moving together with the wheel axle} - B60K 2007/0092: {the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle} - B62D 21/14: of adjustable length or width - B62D 29/041: {Understructures} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES ## Abstract A chassis for an electrically powered vehicle, including a front wheel suspension and a rear wheel suspension, each having longitudinal control arms arranged on both sides and a torsion spring actively connected to the longitudinal control arms. The chassis includes a battery housing receiving a propulsion battery. A front transverse carrier extends between the respective longitudinal control arms of the front wheel suspension, and a rear transverse carrier extends between the respective longitudinal control arms of the rear wheel suspension. The respective transverse carriers are rigidly connected to the battery housing and couple the longitudinal control arms and the torsion spring. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a front wheel suspension including a left front longitudinal control arm, a right front longitudinal control arm, and a front torsion spring actively connected to at least one of the left front longitudinal control arm and the right front longitudinal control arm; a rear wheel suspension including a left rear longitudinal control arm, a right rear longitudinal control arm, and a rear torsion spring actively connected to at least one of the left front longitudinal control arm and the right rear longitudinal control arm; a battery housing; a front transverse carrier rigidly connected to the battery housing and rotatably supporting the left front longitudinal control arm and the right front longitudinal control arm; a rear transverse carrier rigidly connected to the battery housing and rotatably supporting the left rear longitudinal control arm and the right rear longitudinal control arm; the left front longitudinal control arm and the right front longitudinal control arm each having a wheel supporting end and a transverse carrier mounting end, the front transverse carrier coupled to the transverse carrier mounting end of each of the left front longitudinal control arm and the right front longitudinal control arm; the left rear longitudinal control arm and the right rear longitudinal control arm each having a wheel supporting end and a transverse carrier mounting end, the rear transverse carrier coupled to the transverse carrier mounting end of each of the left rear longitudinal control arm and the right rear longitudinal control arm; and the wheel supporting end of the left front longitudinal control arm and the right front longitudinal control arm positioned adjacent to the battery housing and the wheel supporting end of the left front longitudinal control arm and the right rear longitudinal control arm positioned adjacent to the battery housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the front torsion spring and the rear torsion spring each include at least one of a straight elongated torsion spring, a wound torsion spring, a hollow torsion bar spring, and a rubber-elastic torsion spring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the front transverse carrier is a straight, hollow rail having a center line parallel to a front end of the battery housing; and the rear transverse carrier is a straight, hollow rail having a center line parallel to a rear end of the battery housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a rigid connection couples the front transverse carrier to the front torsion spring; and a rigid connection couples the rear transverse carrier to the rear torsion spring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the front torsion spring includes a left front torsion spring and a right front torsion spring, the left front torsion spring actively connected to the left front longitudinal control arm and the right front torsion spring actively connected to the right front longitudinal control arm; and the rear torsion spring includes a left rear torsion spring and a right rear torsion spring, the left rear torsion spring actively connected to the left rear longitudinal control arm and the right rear torsion spring actively connected to the right rear longitudinal control arm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle of claim 5, wherein left and right front torsion springs and the left and right rear torsion springs include at least one of a cylindrical coil spring and a torsion tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The vehicle of claim 5, including a front electrically controllable actuator coupling the front transverse carrier to at least one of the left front torsion spring and the right front torsion spring; and a rear electrically controllable actuator coupling the rear transverse carrier to at least one of the left front torsion spring and right rear torsion spring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, including a front stabilizer extending between and rigidly connected to the left front longitudinal control arm and right front longitudinal control arm; and a rear stabilizer extending between and rigidly connected to the left rear longitudinal control arm and the right rear longitudinal control arm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the battery housing contains multiple sections, each section containing a propulsion battery. ### Claim 10 A chassis for an electrically powered vehicle comprising: a battery housing having a front end, a rear end, a left side, and a right side; a front wheel suspension including a right front longitudinal control arm and a left front longitudinal control arm; a rear wheel suspension including a right rear longitudinal control arm and a left rear longitudinal control arm; a front transverse carrier having a hollow profile defining a cavity, the front transverse carrier rigidly connected to the front end of the battery housing and rotatably supporting the right front longitudinal control arm and the left front longitudinal control arm; a rear transverse carrier having a hollow profile defining a cavity, the rear transverse carrier rigidly connected to the rear end of the battery housing and rotatably supporting the right rear longitudinal control arm and the left rear longitudinal control arm; a front torsion spring disposed within the cavity of the front transverse carrier and connected to at least one of the right front longitudinal control arm and the left front longitudinal control arm and to the front transverse carrier; a rear torsion spring disposed within the cavity of the rear transverse carrier and connected to at least one of the right rear longitudinal control arm and the left rear longitudinal control arm and to the front transverse carrier; the right front longitudinal control arm and the right rear longitudinal control arm extend parallel to a direction of vehicle travel and adjacent to the right side of the battery housing; and the left front longitudinal control arm and the left rear longitudinal control arm extend parallel to the direction of vehicle travel and adjacent to the left side of the battery housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The chassis of claim 10, wherein the front transverse carrier is a straight, hollow rail having a center line parallel to the front end of the battery housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The chassis of claim 10, wherein the front torsion spring includes a left front torsion spring and a right front torsion spring, the left front torsion spring connected to the left front longitudinal control arm and the right front torsion spring connected to the right front longitudinal control arm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The chassis of claim 10, including a stabilizer extending between and rigidly connected to the right front longitudinal control arm and the left front longitudinal control arm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The chassis of claim 10, wherein the front transverse carrier, the left front longitudinal control arm, and the right front longitudinal control arm form a U-shaped front unit with the left front longitudinal control arm and the right front longitudinal control arm extending rearward from the front end of the battery housing towards the rear end of the battery housing; and the rear transverse carrier, the left rear longitudinal control arm, and the right rear longitudinal control arm form a U-shaped rear unit with the left rear longitudinal control arm and the right rear longitudinal control arm extending forward from the rear end of the battery housing towards the front end of the battery housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The chassis of claim 12, including a clamp connecting the left and right front torsion springs. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The chassis of claim 10, wherein the front torsion spring includes a left front torsion spring and a right front torsion spring, the left front torsion spring actively connected to the left front longitudinal control arm and the right front torsion spring actively connected to the right front longitudinal control arm; and the rear torsion spring includes a left rear torsion spring and a right rear torsion spring, the left rear torsion spring actively connected to the left rear longitudinal control arm and the right rear torsion spring actively connected to the right rear longitudinal control arm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The chassis of claim 16, wherein a left front actuator actively connects the left front torsion spring to the left front longitudinal control arm, and a right front actuator actively connects the right front torsion spring to the right front longitudinal control arm; and a left rear actuator actively connects the left rear torsion spring to the left rear longitudinal control arm, and a right rear actuator actively connects the right rear torsion spring to the right rear longitudinal control arm. ### Claim 18 A vehicle chassis comprising: a battery housing having a front end, a rear end, a left side, and a right side; a wheel suspension including a right longitudinal control arm and left longitudinal control arm; a transverse carrier having a hollow profile defining a cavity, the transverse carrier rigidly connected to one of the front end and the rear end of the battery housing, the transverse carrier rotatably supporting the right longitudinal control arm and the left longitudinal control arm; a torsion spring disposed within the cavity of the transverse carrier and connected to at least one of the right longitudinal control arm and the left longitudinal control arm and to the transverse carrier; the right longitudinal control arm extending parallel to a direction of vehicle travel and adjacent to the right side of the battery housing; and the left longitudinal control arm extending parallel to the direction of vehicle travel and adjacent to the left side of the battery housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle chassis of claim 18, wherein the transverse carrier, the left longitudinal control arm, and the right longitudinal control arm form a U-shaped unit with the left longitudinal control arm and the right longitudinal control arm extending inward towards the battery housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The vehicle chassis of claim 18, wherein the torsion spring includes a left torsion spring and a right torsion spring, the left torsion spring connected to the left longitudinal control arm and the right torsion spring connected to the right longitudinal control arm; and a clamp connecting the left torsion spring and the right torsion spring.