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US 12,709,146 B2Granted
Power unit for front beam axle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDavid Oh, David Janson, Bryant Poynter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for configuring a four-wheel drive high gross weight vehicle are presented. In one non-limiting example, a traction battery covers a lateral expanse between a first frame rail and a second frame rail, thereby providing higher storage capacity for the traction battery even though the vehicle is configured for four-wheel drive.
Claims20
A vehicle system, comprising:
- a steerable front beam axle;
- a rear beam axle;
- a first vehicle frame rail configured to support a chassis and that extends between the rear beam axle and the steerable front beam axle;
- a second vehicle frame rail configured to support the chassis and that extends between the rear beam axle and the steerable front beam axle;
- a power unit configured to generate electric power via output of an internal combustion engine, the power unit also configured to supply propulsive effort to front wheels of the vehicle system;
- and
- a traction battery, the traction battery extending continuously laterally between the first vehicle frame rail and the second vehicle frame rail.
4 more elements
A method for a vehicle, comprising:
- mounting a power unit longitudinally in the vehicle and coupling the power unit to a front beam axle, the power unit mounted between a first frame rail and a second frame rail;
- a rear beam axle;
- and
- mounting a traction battery between the first frame rail and the second frame rail, where the traction battery extends at least sixty percent of a lateral distance between the first frame rail and the second frame rail a first vehicle frame rail that extends between the rear beam axle and the front beam axle, and where the traction battery is mounted between the rear beam axle and the front beam axle.
1 more element
A vehicle system, comprising:
- a front beam axle;
- a rear beam axle;
- a first vehicle frame rail that extends between the rear beam axle and the front beam axle;
- a second vehicle frame rail that extends between the rear beam axle and the front beam axle;
- a power unit configured to generate electric power via output of an internal combustion engine, the power unit also configured to supply propulsive effort to front wheels of the vehicle system, and where a torque path through the power unit changes from a front to rear longitudinal direction to a rear to front longitudinal direction;
- and
- a traction battery, the traction battery extending laterally between the first vehicle frame rail and the second vehicle frame rail.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.