Thomas A Kuhl

US Patent:

20200114995, Apr 16, 2020

Filed:

Feb 8, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/271017

Inventors:

- Middlebury IN, US
Thomas A. Kuhl - Davenport FL, US
Donald W. Roberts - Franklin NC, US

International Classification:

B62D 63/02
B60K 5/10
B62D 63/04

Abstract:

A motor vehicle and construction method for a motor vehicle, such as a bus, wherein fabricated subassemblies or modules are joined using mechanical fasteners to form an integrated, load carrying structure. The fabricated subassemblies are configured to allow substitution of subassemblies with alternative configurations in order to produce a number of unique vehicle configurations each sharing a common architecture. Modular construction techniques allow for simplification of construction processes, reduction of welding processes, and the application of physically smaller subassemblies. Interchange and substitution of subassemblies with shared attributes may also facilitate production of vehicles having different characteristics.

US Patent:

20200070652, Mar 5, 2020

Filed:

Oct 11, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/157449

Inventors:

- Middlebury IN, US
Donald W. Roberts - Franklin NC, US
Thomas A. Kuhl - Davenport FL, US

International Classification:

B60K 17/22
B60K 17/04
F16H 1/14

Abstract:

A drive arrangement for a motor vehicle, such as a bus, using a rear driven axle and having a propulsion unit positioned so that it is not aligned with the direction of travel of the vehicle. The propulsion unit is oriented at an acute angle to the base reference axis of the vehicle. The axle is provided with a driven input shaft that is oriented at an angle not parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The propulsion unit comprises a motor, a transmission, and a bevel gear box coupled to the transmission, with an output shaft that is oriented at an angle not parallel to the axis of the propulsion system. The propulsion unit output shaft and the driven axle input shaft are not aligned coaxially, and are connected via a propeller shaft, wherein the ends of the propeller shaft use constant velocity joints to accomplish a change in the angle of the transmitted power and torque.