# US 12,179,582 B1 · Low-floor bus support structure

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- Number: US 12,179,582 B1
- Document ID: US12179582B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/597,827
- Filed: 2024-03-06
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2024-03-06
- Applicants: David Delforte
- Inventors: David Delforte
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179582B1

## CPC

- B60K 17/22: characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
- B60K 17/04: characterised by arrangement, location or kind of gearing
- B60K 17/165: {provided between independent half axles (B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence)}
- B60P 1/431: {the ramp being stored under the loading floor when not in use}
- B62D 25/2018: {the subunits being front structures}
- B62D 25/2027: {the subunits being rear structures}
- B62D 47/02: for large numbers of passengers, e.g. omnibus
- 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
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)
- 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)

## Abstract

A support structure for a low-floor bus having front wheels and rear wheels, the support structure including a floor support structure having a front end and a read end, wherein the floor support structure is configured to receive front side rails on the front end of the floor support structure and rear side rails on the rear end of the floor support structure, and a first transfer case disposed on the front end of the floor support structure, wherein the first transfer case is configured to receive a first drive shaft from the low-floor bus on a first end of the first transfer case and to receive a second drive shaft on a rear end of the first transfer case, the second drive shaft is configured to drive the rear wheels.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A support structure for a low-floor bus having front wheels and rear wheels, said support structure comprising:
(a) a floor support structure having a front end and a read end, wherein said floor support structure configured to receive front side rails on said front end of said floor support structure and rear side rails on said rear end of said floor support structure; and
(b) a first transfer case disposed on said front end of said floor support structure, wherein said first transfer case is configured to receive a first drive shaft from the low-floor bus on a first end of said first transfer case and to receive a second drive shaft on a rear end of said first transfer case,
wherein the second drive shaft is configured to mechanically connect said first transfer case with a differential to drive the rear wheels on a ground and the second drive shaft is configured to be disposed at a first level with respect to the ground, an output of the second drive shaft is configured to be received at the differential at a second level with respect to the ground and the first level is lower than the second level.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The support structure of claim 1, wherein said floor support structure comprises a front manifold, a rear manifold, a support structure connecting said front manifold and said rear manifold and a gap in each of said front manifold and said rear manifold of at least about 6-8 inches in width to accommodate the second drive shaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The support structure of claim 1, further comprising a second transfer case disposed on said rear end of said floor support structure for receiving the second drive shaft and transferring its motive force to drive the rear wheels via the differential.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The support structure of claim 1, wherein said first drive shaft is configured to mechanically connect said first transfer case with a transmission of the low-floor bus.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The support structure of claim 1, wherein said floor support structure comprises a front manifold, a rear manifold and a plurality of beams connecting said front manifold and said rear manifold.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The support structure of claim 5, further comprising a cutout disposed in said floor support structure, said cutout configured for accommodating a retractable ramp.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The support structure of claim 5, wherein at least one of said plurality of beams is a C-channel, an I-beam, a hollow channel and a solid bar.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The support structure of claim 1, further comprising a retractable ramp configured to be disposed in a cutout of said floor support structure.

### Claim 9

A support structure for a low-floor bus having front ground-contacting wheels and rear ground-contacting wheels, said support structure comprising:
(a) a floor support structure having a front end and a read end, wherein said floor support structure configured to receive front side rails on said front end of said floor support structure and rear side rails on said rear end of said floor support structure; and
(b) a first transfer case disposed on said front end of said floor support structure, wherein said first transfer case is configured to receive a first drive shaft from the low-floor bus on a first end of said first transfer case and to receive a second drive shaft on a rear end of said first transfer case,
wherein said floor support structure further comprises a front manifold, a rear manifold, a support structure connecting said front manifold and said rear manifold and a gap in each of said front manifold and said rear manifold to accommodate the second drive shaft, the second drive shaft is configured to mechanically connect said first transfer case with a differential to drive the rear ground-contacting wheels on a ground and the second drive shaft is configured to be disposed at a first level with respect to the ground, an output of the second drive shaft is configured to be received at the differential at a second level with respect to the ground and the first level is lower than the second level.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The support structure of claim 9, wherein said gap is at least about 6-8 inches.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The support structure of claim 9, further comprising a second transfer case disposed on said rear end of said floor support structure for receiving the second drive shaft and transferring its motive force to drive the rear ground-contacting wheels via the differential.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The support structure of claim 9, wherein said first drive shaft is configured to mechanically connect said first transfer case with a transmission of the low-floor bus.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The support structure of claim 9, wherein said floor support structure comprises a front manifold, a rear manifold and a plurality of beams connecting said front manifold and said rear manifold.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The support structure of claim 13, further comprising a cutout disposed in said floor support structure, said cutout configured for accommodating a retractable ramp.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The support structure of claim 13, wherein at least one of said plurality of beams is a C-channel, an I-beam, a hollow channel and a solid bar.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The support structure of claim 9, further comprising a retractable ramp configured to be disposed in a cutout of said floor support structure.