# US 12,005,931 B2 · Drive device for a system for changing means of transportation, use and system for changing means of transportation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,931 B2 - Document ID: US12005931B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/440,298 - Filed: 2020-03-19 - Published: 2022-05-19 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-20 - Assignees: EDAG Engineering GmbH - Applicants: EDAG Engineering GmbH - Inventors: Johannes Barckmann; Thomas Hasenauer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005931B2 ## CPC - B60W 60/0025: {specially adapted for specific operations} - B62D 63/025: {Modular vehicles (superstructures for busses having modular sections B62D31/025)} - B65F 3/04: Linkages, pivoted arms, or pivoted carriers for raising and subsequently tipping receptacles - B25J 5/007: {mounted on wheels} - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - 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) - B65F: GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE (disinfecting refuse A61L; refuse disintegrators B02C; sorting refuse B03B; B07B; handcarts for transporting refuse receptacles B62B; sack holders B65B67/00; converting refuse into fertilisers C05F; converting refuse into solid fuels C10L; sewers, cesspools E03F; arrangements in buildings for the disposal of refuse E04F17/10; refuse-consuming furnaces F23G; {for surgical articles A61B50/36}) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) ## Abstract A drive device for a transport means changing system, comprising: a drive train configured for use on the road; an interface configured for coupling to a passenger cabin and/or cargo cabin; comprising a work device which performs work activities, in particular maintenance, clearing, servicing and/or monitoring activities which are independent of transportation, wherein the drive device has a first operating mode in which it is coupled to at least one passenger cabin and/or cargo cabin and is configured to carry out autonomous transportation of passengers and/or cargo, and wherein the drive device has a second operating mode in which it is decoupled from a passenger cabin and/or cargo cabin and is configured for autonomous mobile performance of the work activities by the work device or by a coupled tool module. The present invention further relates to a corresponding use of a drive device and a corresponding transport means changing system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drive device for a system for changing means of transportation, the drive device comprising: a drive train which is configured for use on the road; an interface which is configured for rigid coupling to at least one of a passenger cabin and cargo cabin, and: a work device which is configured to perform work activities which are independent of transportation, wherein the drive device has a first operating mode in which it is coupled to the at least one passenger cabin or cargo cabin and is configured to carry out autonomous transportation of passengers or cargo, respectively, and wherein the drive device has a second operating mode in which it is decoupled from the passenger cabin or cargo cabin, respectively, and is configured for autonomous mobile performance of the work activities by the work device or by a coupled tool module, wherein the drive device has a sensor unit which forms a highest point of the drive device in the second operating mode, wherein the sensor unit is configured to be displaced in position, wherein the sensor unit, in the first operating mode, may be integrated in an aerodynamically favorable position in a vehicle shell of at least one of the drive device, the passenger cabin or cargo cabin, and wherein the sensor unit, in the second operating mode, may be displaced upwards, so that the sensor unit of the drive device protrudes upwards in a raised manner and forms a head of the drive device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drive device of claim 1, wherein a man-machine interface is provided in an area of the sensor unit, the man-machine interface is configured for audio-visual communication with a person in a vicinity of the drive device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drive device of claim 1, wherein the work device has a swivel arm for displacing the sensor unit, the swivel arm is coupled to a substructure, by means of a swivel bearing positioned in an area of a front side of the drive device, which substructure contains the drive train. ### Claim 4 A drive device for a system for changing means of transportation, the drive device comprising: a drive train which is configured for use on the road; an interface which is configured for rigid coupling to at least one of a passenger cabin and cargo cabin, and: a work device which is configured to perform work activities which are independent of transportation, wherein the drive device has a first operating mode in which it is coupled to the at least one passenger cabin or cargo cabin and is configured to carry out autonomous transportation of passengers or cargo, respectively, and wherein the drive device has a second operating mode in which it is decoupled from the passenger cabin or cargo cabin, respectively, and is configured for autonomous mobile performance of the work activities by the work device or by a coupled tool module, wherein the drive device has a sensor unit which forms a highest point of the drive device in the second operating mode, wherein the sensor unit is configured to be fixed in position, wherein the sensor unit forms a head on a front side of the drive device, the head protrudes upwards in the second operating mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The drive device of claim 4, wherein a man-machine interface is provided in an area of the sensor unit, the man-machine interface is configured for audio-visual communication with a person in a vicinity of the drive device.