# US 2014/0151141 A1 · Road vehicle chassis and road vehicle

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- Number: US 2014/0151141 A1
- Document ID: US20140151141A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/087,362
- Filed: 2013-11-22
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Assignees: Hymer GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: Hymer AG
- Inventors: Stefan EHL
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151141A1

## CPC

- B62D 21/02: comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members
- B60K 5/00: Arrangement or mounting of internal-combustion or jet-propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00)
- B60P 3/32: comprising living accommodation for people, e.g. caravans, camping, or like vehicles (tents or canopies, in general E04H15/00)
- B62D 21/10: in which the main member is plate-like
- B62D 29/041: {Understructures}
- B62D 63/025: {Modular vehicles (superstructures for busses having modular sections B62D31/025)}
- 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)
- 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)

## Abstract

The invention relates to a road vehicle chassis comprising a front chassis, a rear chassis and flange means, wherein the front chassis and the rear chassis are connected together to form the road vehicle chassis by the interposition of the flange means and wherein the front chassis comprises front wheel suspension fastening means and the rear chassis comprises rear wheel suspension fastening means. In this case, the rear chassis is configured as a lightweight sandwich construction chassis, wherein the lightweight sandwich construction chassis comprises a plurality of sandwich plates, wherein the sandwich plates are configured as longitudinal members, crossmembers, a top chord and a bottom chord, wherein the sandwich plates are connected together such that the sandwich plates form a three-dimensional structure, wherein the three-dimensional structure is defined at the top by the top chord and at the bottom by the bottom chord, wherein adjacent sandwich plates are connected together.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A road vehicle chassis, in particular motorhome chassis and campervan chassis, comprising:
a front chassis,
a rear chassis and
flange means,
wherein the front chassis and the rear chassis are connected together to form the road vehicle chassis by the interposition of the flange means and
wherein the front chassis comprises front wheel suspension fastening means and the rear chassis comprises rear wheel suspension fastening means,
wherein the rear chassis is configured as a lightweight sandwich construction chassis,
wherein the lightweight sandwich construction chassis comprises a plurality of sandwich plates,
wherein the sandwich plates are configured as longitudinal members, crossmembers, a top chord and a bottom chord,
wherein the sandwich plates are connected together such that said sandwich plates form a three-dimensional structure,
wherein said three-dimensional structure is defined at the top by the top chord and at the bottom by the bottom chord, and
wherein adjacent sandwich plates are connected together.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The road vehicle chassis according to claim 1, wherein the lightweight sandwich construction chassis comprises at least two longitudinal members which are configured such that said longitudinal members are both connected by one of the flange means to the front chassis and comprise the rear wheel suspension fastening means, wherein the rear wheel suspension fastening means are configured, in particular, as bores incorporated in the longitudinal members and/or as threaded portions incorporated in the longitudinal members and/or as threaded bolts arranged on the longitudinal member and/or as a bonded connection.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The road vehicle chassis according to claim 1,
wherein the three-dimensional structure of the rear chassis is configured as a self-supporting three-dimensional structure,
wherein said three-dimensional structure is configured, in particular, such that by the sandwich plates which are connected together at least three, in particular cuboidal, modules are formed and arranged, in particular, symmetrically to a vehicle longitudinal axis, said modules being arranged in the direction of travel, in particular in succession and adjacent to one another,
wherein one of the modules is arranged, in particular, such that the first crossmember defining the module is arranged in the direction of travel upstream of a point of installation for rear wheels, and in that the second crossmember defining the module is arranged in the direction of travel downstream of the point of installation for the rear wheels,
wherein the sandwich plates used for the three-dimensional structure have a plate thickness, in particular, of between 20 mm and 40 mm and preferably of 25 mm to 35 mm,
wherein the top chord and the bottom chord are at a distance relative to one another of 350 mm to 450 mm and preferably of 400 mm to 430 mm and
wherein the longitudinal members, in particular, have a length of 2 m to 4 m and preferably of 3 m to 3.6 m.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The road vehicle chassis according to claim 1, wherein the flange means connect the longitudinal members of the rear chassis which form connecting points of the rear chassis and the supporting members of the front chassis which form connecting points of the front chassis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The road vehicle chassis according to claim 1, wherein the front chassis is configured as a metal chassis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The road vehicle chassis according to claim 4, wherein at least one connecting point of the front chassis is configured as a hollow profile and in that at least one connecting point of the rear chassis is formed by one of the longitudinal members, wherein the longitudinal member is connected to the hollow profile such that the longitudinal member protrudes into the hollow profile and is connected by the flange means to the hollow profile or in that the longitudinal member bears externally against the hollow profile and is connected by the flange means to the hollow profile.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The road vehicle chassis according to claim 1, wherein the rear chassis has at least three, and in particular four, crossmembers which pass through the rear chassis.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The road vehicle chassis according to claim 7, wherein at least two, and in particular three, adjacent crossmembers in each case have a through-hole so that a tunnel which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is formed between the top chord and the bottom chord.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The road vehicle chassis according to claim 1, wherein the individual flange means comprise at least one gusset plate for connecting the front chassis and the rear chassis, wherein the gusset plate is connected, and in particular screwed, to the front chassis and the rear chassis.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The road vehicle chassis according to claim 1, wherein a seat belt bracket is connected to one of the longitudinal members and/or one of the crossmembers and is supported, in particular, by a side arm on the top chord.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The road vehicle chassis according to claim 1, wherein the lightweight sandwich construction chassis is either configured such that the top chord in the direction of travel protrudes laterally on both sides over the bottom chord, wherein the top chord protrudes laterally over the longitudinal members and
wherein the bottom chord terminates flush with the longitudinal members to the side, wherein in particular at least one of the crossmembers exclusively extends between the longitudinal members and, in particular, has a length of 1.2 m to 1.4 m and preferably of 1.25 m to 1.35 m or
wherein, in particular, at least one of the crossmembers protrudes on both sides over the longitudinal members and has, in particular, a length of 2 m to 2.5 m and preferably a length of 2.2 m to 2.3 m
or is configured such that the top chord and the bottom chord protrude laterally on both sides over the longitudinal members, wherein, in particular, at least one of the crossmembers protrudes on both sides over the longitudinal members and, in particular, has a length of 2 m to 2.5 m and preferably a length of 2.2 m to 2.3 m.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The road vehicle chassis according to claim 9, wherein the flange means comprise at least one adapter which is arranged between the front chassis and the rear chassis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A road vehicle having a road vehicle chassis according to claim 1, and wherein the road vehicle comprises an engine, in particular an internal combustion engine, which is mounted in the front chassis and drives front wheels or front wheels and rear wheels.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A road vehicle having a road vehicle chassis according to claim 1, and wherein the road vehicle comprises an engine, in particular an internal combustion engine, which is mounted in the rear chassis and drives rear wheels or rear wheels and the front wheels.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

A road vehicle having a road vehicle chassis, according to claim 13,
wherein the top chord of the rear chassis, in particular, forms a bottom surface of a living space,
wherein supply units and/or containers are arranged, in particular, between the top chord and the bottom chord in modules defined by the longitudinal members and the crossmembers,
wherein at least one of the modules, in particular, is accessible through a through-hole in one of the two crossmembers which define the module,
wherein at least one of the modules is accessible, in particular, through a through-hole in the left-hand longitudinal member and, in particular, through a through-hole in the right-hand longitudinal member,
wherein the top chord and/or the bottom chord is and/or are configured, in particular, as (an) individual sandwich plate(s) which counter to the direction of travel protrude over rear wheels of the road vehicle,
wherein the longitudinal members protrude, in particular, over the crossmember furthest to the front and/or over the crossmember (furthest to the rear, wherein a projection over the crossmember furthest to the front is, in particular, at least 20 cm, wherein a projection over the crossmember furthest to the rear is, in particular, at least 20 cm.