Claims
- 1. A vehicle structure, comprising:
a lightweight skeletal frame; and a plurality of body panels attached to said skeletal frame wherein said body panels being constructed from a light weight non-metallic material.
- 2. The vehicle structure of claim 1, wherein the body panels comprise a first skin, a second skin, and a core disposed therebetween.
- 3. The vehicle structure of claim 2, wherein said core comprises a honeycomb structure.
- 4. The vehicle structure of claim 2, wherein said core is constructed from balsa wood or foam.
- 5. The vehicle structure of claim 2, wherein said first skin is reinforced with a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, fiberglass, aramid, Spectra, carbon fiber, and any combination thereof.
- 6. The vehicle structure of claim 2, wherein said first skin is reinforced with other structural fibers.
- 7. A vehicle structure of claim 1, wherein
the lightweight skeletal frame distributes stress loads to the plurality of body panels wherein the body panels are attached to said skeletal frame.
- 8. The vehicle structure of claim 1, wherein said body panels are the primary load bearing members of the structure.
- 9. The vehicle structure of claim 1 wherein said skeletal frame is reinforced in areas of high stress loads.
- 10. The vehicle structure of claim 1 wherein said skeletal frame is reinforced around suspension and powertrain attachment points.
- 11. A vehicle structure of claim 1 wherein said skeletal frame has at least one attachment point for removably attaching a first suspension module.
- 12. A vehicle structure of claim 1 wherein said skeletal frame has at least one attachment point for removably attaching a powertrain module.
- 13. A vehicle structure of claims 1 wherein said skeletal frame has at least one suspension attachment point in the forward portion of said skeletal frame for removably attaching a first suspension module and at least one suspension attachment point in the aft portion of said skeletal frame for removably attaching a second suspension module.
- 14. A suspension module, comprising:
a suspension module frame for housing a suspension system, wherein said suspension module frame contains a plurality of mounts for releaseably attaching said suspension module frame to a vehicle structure.
- 15. The suspension module of claim 14, wherein said plurality of mounts are spaced to distribute loads proportionally to said vehicle structure.
- 16. The suspension module of claim 14, wherein the suspension module frame distributes suspension loads to the vehicle structure.
- 17. The suspension module, comprising:
a suspension module frame member; a suspension arm; a spring; a shock absorber; and a wheel; wherein said suspension arm is operably associated with the spring and shock absorber and is rotationally coupled to said suspension module frame member; wherein said wheel is pivotally coupled to said suspension arm.
- 18. A powertrain module, comprising:
a powertrain module frame for housing a suspension system and an engine, wherein said powertrain module frame contains a plurality of mounts for releaseably attaching said powertrain module frame to a vehicle structure.
- 19. The powertrain module of claim 18, wherein
said plurality of mounts are spaced to distribute loads proportionally to said vehicle structure.
- 20. The suspension module of claim 18, wherein the powertrain module frame distributes suspension and powertrain loads to the vehicle structure.
- 21. A powertrain module, comprising:
a powertrain frame member; a suspension arm; a strut; an engine; a drive axle; a wheel; and a transmission; wherein said suspension arm is in a fixed relation to said strut and is rotationally coupled to said powertrain frame member and rotationally coupled to said drive axle; wherein said drive axle is connected on a first end to said wheel and connected on a second end to said transmission, wherein said transmission is connected to said engine.
- 22. A vehicle, comprising,
a body; an engine; and a suspension module; wherein said engine is secured to said body; wherein said suspension module is releaseably attached to said body.
- 23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein said suspension module houses a suspension system.
- 24. A vehicle, comprising
a body; a suspension module; and a powertrain module; wherein the suspension module and the powertrain module are releaseably attached to the body.
- 25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the suspension module houses a suspension system.
- 26. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein the powertrain module houses an engine and a suspension system.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional application Serial No. 60/234,085, filed Sep. 20, 2000, and is incorporated herein for all purposes.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60234085 |
Sep 2000 |
US |