Modular Truck Chassis Platform With Interchangeable Powertrain Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional truck design processes are inefficient and costly, requiring the redesign of entire components when updating or modifying trucks, with little design efficiency or cost savings, especially when transitioning between different engine and transmission types.
Innovation Solution
A modular vehicle design that includes interchangeable power plant, drive train, and control system modules with predefined interfaces, allowing for the 'plug and play' integration of different engines, transmissions, and energy sources, such as diesel, gas, or fuel cell engines, with traction motors and rechargeable batteries, simplifying the design and manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional truck design processes are used with specific transportation purposes, then each truck is optimized for its specific function, but the design process is inefficient and costly requiring redesign of entire components when updating or modifying trucks
Solution Approach 1:
The truck is divided into modular components including a chassis module, power plant module, and cargo module. Each module can be independently designed, manufactured, and updated. The chassis module serves as a common platform that can support different power plant and cargo configurations, enabling functional specialization without requiring complete redesign of the entire vehicle.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional truck design processes are used with specific transportation purposes, then each truck is optimized for its specific function, but redesigning or updating trucks requires starting from scratch by selecting or designing all components again
Solution Approach 1:
A common chassis platform is pre-designed and standardized before specific truck configurations are needed. This chassis module includes predefined mounting points, interface standards, and structural characteristics that can accommodate various power plants and cargo modules. When updating or creating new truck configurations, developers can directly select and integrate appropriate modules onto the existing chassis platform without starting from scratch.
3Productivity
If modular vehicle design with interchangeable modules is used, then design efficiency and cost savings are improved, but the chassis must be designed to accommodate multiple different module types with predefined interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The chassis module is designed with universal interfaces and standardized mounting systems that can accommodate multiple types of power plant modules and cargo modules. Key interfaces including the fifth wheel interface, power transmission interface, and electrical connection interface are designed to be compatible with various module configurations. This universality allows a single chassis design to support multiple truck types without requiring complex customizations for each module type.
Data Source
AI summary
A configurable, modular vehicle on common chassis platform, and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a configurable modular vehicle includes: a chassis, a power plant module configured to generate electrical energy, and a drive train module. The drive train module includes: at least one traction motor configured to receive electrical energy from the power plant module, a transmission configured to transfer torque from the traction motor to a drive axle, and the drive axle configured to transfer torque to drive wheels, and a control system module configured to control components of the power plant module and the drive train module. The interfaces of the power plant module and the drive train module are predefined, and different types of the power plant modules and the drive train modules are interchangeable within their respective predefined interfaces.