CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

[0001] This disclosure claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application serial no.

62/611,036 filed on December 28, 2017, herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a vehicle with detachable passenger and/or cargo compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Passenger vehicles and cargo vehicles, e.g. box trucks and cargo vans, are typically built on, and permanently fixed to a suitable vehicle platform or chassis. The platform or chassis includes the wheels and platform. For example, depending on the intended us, a standard truck chassis can be used as a platform for a school bus, fire taick, ambulance or box truck. The passenger compartment (e.g. in the case of an ambulance or school bus) and the cargo compartment (e.g. in the case of a box truck) are permanently mounted on and fixed to the truck chassis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present system is directed to a modular vehicle, also referred to as the“parapod system” throughout this disclosure. The modular vehicle represents a major advancement in fleet autonomous transportation as it provides the personal space coveted by vehicle owners and users, while freeing the rest of the vehicle to continue making deliveries. This is accomplished by a specialized passenger or cargo compartment module which is detachable from the powered chassis (platform) module of the associated vehicle, and a loading and unloading mechanism built into the platform of the associated vehicle

[0005] The present invention, in one form thereof, relates to a modular vehicle which comprises a vehicle chassis and a lifting mechanism. The vehicle chassis has wheels and a motor mounted thereto. The lifting mechanism is mounted to the vehicle chassis and is adapted to remove a removably attachable vehicle compartment from the vehicle chassis. The lifting mechanism can replace a replacement removable attachable vehicle compartment on the vehicle chassis. The vehicle compartment i s either a passenger compartment and/or a cargo

compartment.

[0006] In one advantageous form, the lifting mechanism engages with and remains attached to the vehicle compartment when the vehicle compartment is joined to the vehicle chassis.

[0007] In an alternative further form, the vehicle compartment comprises a hanger which is sufficient to support the weight of the vehicle compartment when hung therefrom.

[0008] In another advantageous form, the vehicle chassis has a computer processor associated with the motor and wheels which is adapted to provide autonomous vehicle driving.

[0009] In still another further advantageous form, the modular vehicle further comprises a second lift mechanism adapted to load and unload a second vehicle compartment from the vehicle chassis.

[0010] in still a yet another advantageous form, the lifting mechanism comprises a platform that remains parallel to a base of the vehicle compartment throughout its engagement with the vehicle compartment including while the vehicle compartment is attached to the vehicle chassis and during an operation of lifting and removing the vehicle compartment from the vehicle chassis until the vehicle chassis is placed on the ground or hanging from a suitable stationary mount.

[0011] The present invention in another form thereof relates to a method for removably attaching a vehicle compartment to a vehicle chassis. The method includes extending a lift mechanism permanently attached to the vehicle chassis, engaging a vehicle compartment with the lift mechanism, retracting the lift mechanism with the vehicle compartment engaged therewith and placing the vehicle compartment on the vehicle chassis to secure the vehicle compartment to the vehicle chassis for travel.

[0012] In addition, the present system allows the main cost of the vehicle (i.e. the chassis or platform), to be used for both passenger compartment transport, as well as cargo compartment or bare pallet transport, thus allowing versatile use of the platform/chassis while the different compartments transported by the platform remain unaffected by the multiple uses.

[0013] Further, the present system can "park" only the passenger or cargo compartment, which is much smaller than the overall vehicle, which multiplies the parking capacity of any lot.

[0014] In addition, the present system allows direct building access via overhead beam. The method allows the autonomous platform delivering the pod to "hang" the pod at the terminus of the overhead beam. Overhead beams will allow the overlap of vehicular transport and pedestrian traffic without conflict. This enables the handicapped, the elderly, and families etc. to maintain freedom of mobility without inhibiting or being inhibited by pedestrian movement. [0015] The present system also allows for dramatic price reduction of personal mobile space because the compartment module or pod is all that is purchased or leased while the more expensive platform is owned and operated by a fleet management entity, thus broadening the user base and their mobility options.

[0016] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method and system are provided for transportation having a removable passenger and/or cargo compartment.

Advantageously, the method and system includes an autonomous powered chassis (e.g. a vehicle platform) for transportation of the removable passenger and/or cargo compartment.

[0017] In one form, the removable passenger and/or cargo compartment is in the form of an exchangeable pod.

[0018] In one further advantageous form, the present method and system has a pod (e.g. passenger and/or cargo compartment) loading mechanism mounted to the vehicle platform (e.g. an autonomous powered chassis) of the present vehicle. The loading mechanism automatically engages and loads the pod onto the chassis (platform).

[0019] In a very advantageous form, the loading mechanism remains engaged with the pod when the vehicle is in its driving mode, e.g. at city speeds (e.g. 30-45 MPG) and highway speeds (e.g. 55-70 MPH).

[0020] In yet another form, a pod unloading mechanism is mounted to an autonomous powered chassis (e.g. vehicle platform) which automatically unloads the pod from the chassis.

[0021] In accordance with another aspect of one form of the present method and system, a stationary overhead beam is associated with the present method and system. [0022] In another aspect of one form of the present method and system, a pod has a beam trolley mounted at a high central location and associated with the stationary overhead beam.

[0023] In a further advantageous form, the method and system provides for placing a passenger / cargo compartment (e.g. pod) onto a terminus of an overhead beam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Figure l is a side elevation view of the present system showing a modular vehicle system with a compartment loaded onto the platform and ready for transit, with partial cut-away showing the platform and mechanism for unloading the compartment in accordance with the present invention disclosure.

[0026] Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the platform hanging the compartment on a beam in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the platform setting the compartment on the ground for parking with its loading mechanism deployed in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 4 is a side elevat on view of the platform with its loading mechanism retracted, and the compartment parked in front of the platform in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 5 is a side elevation cross section detail view of the distal pivot of the compartment loading mechanism. [0030] Figure 6 is a side elevation view detail of the compartment loading mechanism.

[0031] Figure 7 is a side elevation cross section detail view of the proximal pivot of the compartment loading mechanism.

[0032] Figure 8 is a side elevation view of another platform having multiple loading mechanisms and compartments, with partial cut-away showing the platform and mechanism for unloading the compartments in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Referring now to the figures for a better understanding of the present system, in accordance with one embodiment, a modular vehicle 1 (“parapod”) is comprised of two main modules, a vehicle platform or chassis la and the vehicle cargo or passenger module

compartment 4 (compartment). The platform la has four wheels 1 b powered by motor 1 c under the control of processor Id. The platform la is a self-contained, powered autonomous chassis under the control of processor Id and does not require the associated compartment 4 for traveling. The platform la has an on-board (loading/unloading) mechanism 6 (shown as a partial sectional cut-away in Fig. 1) which loads and unloads the detachable vehicle compartment 4, or a raw pallet or other container, to and from the platform la.

[0034] The vehicle compartment 4 is a stationary object when placed on the ground for parking, which requires the on-board loading/unloading mechanism 6 of platform la to load it and carry it from its location, at the time of hailing, to its specified destination. However, an additional feature of the present system is that the platform la can hang the compartment 4 on an overhead beam 9 (Fig. 2) via the motion of the loading/unloading mechanism 6, and a beam-trolley 5 which is mounted to the top of the compartment 4. The beam-trolley 5 is a hanger of sufficient strength to cany or support the weight of the compartment 4 such that the compartment 4 can be hung on an overhead beam 9.

[0035] The loading/unloading mechanism 6 (mechanism) incorporates an internal chain 12 (Figs. 5 - 7) that runs from a static cog 2 at the proximal end of the mechanism 6, which is fixed to the mechanism base 18, to a shaft mounted cog 8 at the distal end of the mechanism 6 which is connected to the carriage 11. This arrangement keeps the carriage 11 and the forks 7 of the mechanism 6 parallel to the deck 25 of the platform la throughout the loading and unloading process without the need for additional actuation to control carriage and fork pitch. A

gear-motor 3 is mounted to the mechanism base 18, which powers rotation of the mechanism drive shaft 20. The drive shaft 20 passes through the center of the stationary cog 2 and attaches to the mechanism 6 via mounting point 21 The drive shaft 20 is also the base pivot point of the mechanism 6 and it is mounted to the base with two main bearings 13. This broad pivot creates a sturdy base for single arm operation of the mechanism 6. A feedback sending unit 17, is positioned at the end of the driveshaft 20 of the mechanism 6 which senses the position of the mechanism and reports that data to the vehicle control processor for coordination.

DESCRIPTION OF METHOD

[0036] Vehicle 1 is an autonomous vehicle. Accordingly, vehicle 1 without compartment 4 attached, (i.e. platform la, itself), can operate using autonomous control software associated with motor lc to navigate to a location to which a compartment manager has hailed the vehicle 1 (without a compartment) for pick-up of a compartment 4. Once at the site of the desired compartment 4, the autonomous platform la recognizes the compartment 4 by markings on its street facing engagement point 24 (Fig. 4), it then stops at a specified distance and deploys the mechanism 6. Once the mechanism 6 is in the deployed (in position as shown in Fig. 3), the platform la proceeds forward to the engagement point 24 of the compartment 4 and locates and engages the compartment 4 using docking control software, computer vision, laser guidance and fixed markers. Once fully engaged, the compartment 4 is lifted from the parking space and placed onto the platform 1 a in the riding position. Then the platform la proceeds with the compartment 4 to its requested destination, and reverses the loading process explained herein to unload the compartment 4 and either place it at a parking space, or hang it on an overhead beam 9. The high-arching motion of the loading and unloading mechanism is key to the invention. It is this motion that enables the platform to place the compartment either directly on the ground in front of the platform, or to place it overhead, either in an elevated parking spot, stationary hanger, or on the terminus of an overhead beam travel-way.

[0037] The foregoing description with regard to Figs. 1-7, is directed to a platform la having a single loading/unloading mechanism 6 and an ability to carry a single compartment 4.

However this is not to he interpreted as a limitation to the present invention. Referring to the embodiment of Fig. 8, where like elements of Figs. 1-7 have been increased by 80, it is easily understood to those skilled in the art that such a platform la and mechanism 6 as the one described with regard to Figs. 1-7, may be increased or decreased in size and strength or that platform 81a may be designed with multiple loading/unloading mechanisms 86a, 86b to engage multiple compartments 84a, 84b, as shown in Fig. 8, or that platform 81a may be designed with mechani sms oriented to engage compartments to the front, rear, or sides of the vehicle 81. [0038] It will now be clear that the present vehicle has features and advantageous over existing vehicles. For example, when vehicle 1,81 has compartment(s) 4, 84a, 84b mounted to platform la, 8 la, as shown in Fig. 1, vehicle 1, 81 can move at city and highway speeds, e.g. 30-70 MPH, or more. The platform la, 84a is adapted to surround the compartment(s) 84a, 84b, resulting in a weight distribution that is centered regardless of load and its profile is low.

Further, the present engineering of the platform 1,81 allows for integrating crash safety protection into it, thus providing protection surrounding the load/compartment(s).