# US 5,704,644 A · Lightweight road vehicle with strengthening structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,644 A - Document ID: US5704644A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/517,137 - Filed: 1995-08-21 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1993-02-27 - Assignees: Esoro AG - Inventors: Diego Jaggi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704644A ## CPC - B60K 1/00: Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - B60L 50/16: with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion - B60L 50/52: characterised by DC-motors - B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries} - B60L 58/21: having the same nominal voltage - B60L 58/26: by cooling - B60L 58/40: for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells - B62D 21/10: in which the main member is plate-like - B62D 29/008: {predominantly of light alloys, e.g. extruded} - B62D 29/046: {Combined superstructure and frame, i.e. monocoque constructions} - B62D 31/003: {compact cars, e.g. city cars} - B60L 2240/12: Speed - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 90/40: Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells - 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 - 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) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A supporting structure for a lightweight vehicle has a central cross tube (10) extending across the vehicle under driver's and occupant's seats. The tube has an enclosed volume formed from a floor plate (14), a top plate (11), a front wall (12) and a rear wall (13). The ends of the cross tube are fixedly attached to longitudinal support members (21, 22), forming a lightweight, rigid and safe structure. The cross-section of the central cross tube is made large (at least 15.times.25 cm) to absorb side impact forces and can contain traction power batteries which results in good weight distribution. Side rings define door openings and are rigidly attached to the cross tube and longitudinal support structure and to transverse roof struts to form a complete passenger enclosure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lightweight road vehicle having an inner passenger space with laterally adjacent driver's and passenger seats, wheels, an energy accumulator (3, 31, 32), an electric motor, and a support structure (2) comprising the combination of a cross tube (10) extending transversely of a normal direction of forward travel of the vehicle within and entirely through said inner passenger space and located beneath and carrying said driver's and passenger seats (5, 6) in a central region of said vehicle between front and rear axles thereof, said tube having a large enclosed interior cross-section with a height of at least 15 cm and a width of at least 25 cm, and including a floor plate (14), a top plate (11), a front wall (12) and a rear wall (13) forming tube walls, at least three of said four tube walls (11, 12, 13, 14) being interconnected, at least part of said cross tube extending above a plane (70) containing axles of said wheels, and a portion of one of said floor plate (14) or said top plate (11) of said cross tube being detachable; said support structure further including at least two side support members (21, 22) extending longitudinally at opposite sides of said vehicle; and force-transmitting junctions (29) interconnecting said cross tube and said side support members, said cross tube (10) housing at least part of said energy accumulator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein an interior space of said vehicle is hermetically sealed by said top plate (11), said front wall (12) and said rear wall (13) from said interior (16) of said cross tube (10). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein at least part of said cross tube walls is double-skinned (17) forming a sandwich construction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said cross tube has side walls (15) and reinforcements (47) forming a latticework. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said driver's and passenger's seats include seat shells (7) connected to and reinforcing said top plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A vehicle according to claim 1 and further comprising double-skinned doors (24), said doors and said longitudinally extending support sections (21, 22) being positioned immediately adjacent said cross tube (10), said doors and longitudinal sections containing energy-absorbing material (28). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A vehicle according to claim 1 and further including a central longitudinal special section tube (23) supporting said cross tube at said front of said vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein ventilation (18) is provided through said longitudinal sections (21, 22, 23) and said cross tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A vehicle according to claim 8 and further including a front transverse wall (26) of said support structure ascending diagonally at said front, said transverse wall being connected to said cross tube by wheel casings (30) and said longitudinal sections (21, 22, 23). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A vehicle according to claim 9 and having a vehicle nose (27) forming a crush zone in front of said front wall, said nose being at least partially filled with energy-absorbing material (28). ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A vehicle according to claim 9 wherein parts of said energy accumulator (32) are arranged on a vehicle floor (8) and in front of said front wall (26). ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) A vehicle according to claim 9 wherein said support structure (2) includes two lateral structural rings (34, 35), comprising windscreen frames (36, 37), door frames (38), a roof frame (39) and said longitudinal sections (21, 22) which are connected with said cross tube and said transverse front wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A vehicle according to claim 12 wherein at least one transverse roof section (44), one front windscreen section (45), one rear transverse wall (46) and one vehicle floor (8) are connected with said lateral structural rings (34, 35). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said supporting structure (2) consists at least partially of fiber composite materials. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said supporting structure is made of light metal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) A vehicle according to claim 9 wherein a part of said energy accumulator is located on a vehicle floor and behind a rear transverse wall (46). ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein at least half (H1) of said cross tube extends above said plane (70) containing said wheel axles. ### Claim 18 A lightweight road vehicle having an inner passenger space with laterally adjacent driver's and passenger's seats, said vehicle having wheels, an energy accumulator (3, 31, 32), an electric motor, and a support structure (2) comprising the combination of a cross tube (10) extending transversely of a normal direction of forward travel of the vehicle within and entirely through said inner passenger space and located beneath said driver's and passenger seats (5, 6) in a central region of said vehicle between front and rear axles thereof, said tube having a large enclosed interior cross-section with a height (H) of at least 15 cm and a width (W) of at least 25 cm, and including a floor plate (14), a top plate (11), a front wall (12) and a rear wall (13), and at least part of said cross tube extending above a plane (70) containing axles of said wheels; first and second rings on opposite sides of said vehicle, each said ring having a central opening defining a door opening, lower portions of said rings forming side support members (21, 22) extending longitudinally at opposite sides of said vehicle; a plurality of transverse struts interconnecting said rings at locations spaced from said side support members; and force-transmitting junctions (29) interconnecting opposite ends of said cross tube and said side support members. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A vehicle according to claim 18 wherein a portion of one of said floor plate (14) and said top plate (11) of said cross tube is detachable, and wherein said cross tube houses at least part of said energy accumulator. ### Claim 20 A lightweight road vehicle having a frame; an inner passenger space with laterally adjacent driver's and passenger seats; wheels and axles coupled to said frame for supporting and permitting rolling motion of said vehicle; an electric motor coupled to drive at least one of said wheels; an energy accumulator providing electrical energy for said motor; and a support structure comprising the combination of a cross tube extending across said frame transversely of a normal direction of forward travel of said vehicle within and entirely through said inner passenger space and located beneath and carrying said driver's and passenger seats in a central region of said vehicle between front and rear axles thereof, said tube having an enclosed interior cross-section with a height of at least 15 cm and a width of at least 25 cm, and including a floor plate, a top plate, a front wall and a rear wall forming tube walls, at least three of said four tube walls being interconnected and constructed to resist lateral impact forces imposed on said vehicle, at least part of said cross tube being intersected by a plane containing axles of said wheels, and a portion of one of said floor plate or said top plate of said cross tube being detachable; said support structure further including at least two side support members extending longitudinally at opposite sides of said vehicle; and force-transmitting junctions interconnecting said cross tube and said side support members, said cross tube housing at least part of said energy accumulator.