Description:TITLE OF THE INVENTION: A DOUBLE DECKER VEHICLE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure is generally related to a vehicle. Particularly, the present disclosure is related to a double decker vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure is a semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The evolution of city buses has received a lot of attention as a result of the rise in the use of public transportation. To increase the bus's capacity to carry passengers, a lot of work is done.
A double decker bus is one such type of bus that is well-known for carrying lots of people while maintaining the same footprint as a standard bus. Double deck buses have changed over time to correspond with the advancement of propulsion technology, from diesel, CNG, or internal combustion engine-powered buses to the modern battery-operated electric buses.
Many aspects of the bus have changed over time. One such change is the size and location of the doors, which are determined by passenger access and egress requirements and the need for quicker passenger flow to and from the bus. The best configuration places a door on the front overhang and another on the rear overhang, allowing for the most seats possible on the bus while also facilitating smooth passenger traffic flow.
Similar to doors, a double decker bus requires two staircases leading to the upper deck in order to facilitate smooth passenger transitions between the decks. The growing use of air-conditioned buses for comfortable transportation has been another significant development. A larger air conditioner is utilised so the bus can accommodate a lot of people.
In a similar vein, the floor height of buses has also decreased significantly over time, which has increased the cost of the vehicle due to the aggregates involved. Nevertheless, some markets tend to favour the more affordable option of a high floor or semi-low floor bus, which still satisfies the requirements for approach, departure angle, and ground clearance. By lessening the consequences of water intrusion while wading flooded waters, the semi-low floor also shows its value in flood-prone areas.
In contrast to an internal combustion engine-driven rear engine bus, which has the engine positioned further towards the rear end of the vehicle, a motor-propelled bus has the motor positioned closer to the rear axle, mostly to prevent drivetrain loss. The motor must be installed in the area between the floor and the departure angle; however, this presents a problem because there is either not enough room for the motor package or the motor protrudes past the floor. A further difficulty would arise in the event that a bus had a door on the rear overhang, but the motor area and the point of entry overlap, rendering the door on the rear overhang unfeasible.
A semi-low floor double decker vehicle (4) presents a challenge because it is a height-constrained vehicle, making it impossible to pack an air conditioner unit on a roof top, as illustrated in Figure 1, unlike a typical low floor vehicle (1) or a semi-low floor vehicle (2), where the air conditioner unit is positioned on the roof top because there is no height challenge, or in the case of a typical low floor double decker vehicle (3) where the air conditioner unit is placed on the roof top and the rear overhang (note that this vehicle does not have a rear door). The challenge is further compounded by the requirement for the second stair case on the rear overhang.
There is, therefore, a need in the art, for: a semi-low floor double decker vehicle, which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, is disclosed. Said vehicle broadly comprises: a couple of decks, a lower deck and an upper deck; a front door; a rear door; a front staircase; a rear staircase; an energy storage system; a steering unit; a braking unit; a motor assembly; a power electronics a slope; a transverse slope; an air conditioner unit; a first blower; and a second blower.
Said lower deck and said upper deck accommodates passengers in two different levels inside the vehicle. The lower deck and the upper deck are separated by an intermediate floor, where a second plurality of seats are disposed on the upper deck. A first plurality of seats is disposed on a floor structure on the lower deck.
The front door and the rear door are disposed on a front overhang and a rear overhang, respectively. said rear door is connected to the floor structure on the lower deck through a rear door foot step, with: said lower deck is connected to the upper deck through the rear staircase that is disposed on the rear overhang. Said front door is connected to the floor structure on the lower deck through a front door foot step, with: said lower deck is connected to the upper deck through the front staircase that is disposed on the front overhang, and above the front axle, thereby providing room for a driver workspace.
In an embodiment, the rear staircase is disposed on the rear overhang, between a last seat from the front, on the driver side, among the first plurality of seats, in a rear side of the vehicle, and the air conditioner unit. A first step on the rear staircase is configured to enhance the clearance above the motor assembly. Said rear staircase broadly comprises an intermediate landing that enables simultaneous movement of passengers to and from the upper deck.
The energy storage system is disposed on a wheelbase, beneath the floor structure.
The steering unit and the braking unit are disposed beneath the floor structure, on the front overhang.
The motor assembly and the power electronics are disposed beneath the floor structure, on the rear overhang.
In an embodiment, the power electronics includes: a vehicle charging unit, a cooling unit, an electric air compressor, a DC-DC convertor, and an auxiliary inventor.
In an embodiment, the motor assembly is disposed on the rear overhang, closure to the rear axle, after the rear wheel and below a frame assembly, at an inclination that clears a line of departure angle.
In an embodiment, the line of departure angle may range between about 8 degrees and about 10 degrees.
The slope is ascending or descending over the rear axle to provide clearance for the rear axle to travel, and the transverse slope is starting from a top most edge of the rear door foot step. Said slope and said transverse slope elevates the floor structure above the motor assembly against a front portion floor structure of the vehicle.
The air conditioner unit is disposed on the rear overhang, vertically between a rear pillar and a rear end of the vehicle, and protrudes into the upper deck from the lower deck.
The first blower and the second blower supply cold air, to the upper deck and the lower deck, respectively, from the air conditioner unit.
The first blower supplies cold air to the upper deck through a first transfer duct and a first passenger air duct, and the second blower supplies cold air to the lower deck through a second transfer duct and a second passenger air duct. The hot air from the upper deck and the lower deck is collected by the air conditioner unit through a return air grill that is strategically disposed on the middle of said upper deck and said lower deck, thereby enabling the cooling efficiency.
The disclosed vehicle offers at least the following advantages: enhances passenger carrying capacity; enhances passenger ingress/egress speed due to the presence of the front door, the rear door, and the ergonomic rear staircase; enhances the cooling efficiency; and economical option of having a high floor or a semi low floor vehicle with better ground clearance and departure angle requirements, thereby minimizing water ingress.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates conventional single decker and double decker vehicles with different flow types;
Figure 2 illustrates a semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates a motor assembly, and a drive train in association with ground and a floor structure of a semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 illustrates a floor structure of a semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5a and Figure 5b illustrates a floor structure configuration of a semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging above a real axle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 6 illustrates a plurality of seats, a rear door and an air condition unit of a semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 7 illustrates a rear end view of a semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 8 illustrates configuration of a plurality of seats, and a rear door of a semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 9 illustrates rear staircase configuration of a semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 10 illustrates a semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 11 illustrates the flow of cold air from an air conditioner unit to an upper deck and a lower deck of a semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Throughout this specification, the use of the words “comprise” and “include”, and variations, such as “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and “including”, may imply the inclusion of an element (or elements) not specifically recited. Further, the disclosed embodiments may be embodied, in various other forms, as well.
Throughout this specification, the use of the words “communication”, “couple”, and their variations (such as communicatively), is to be construed as being inclusive of: one-way communication (or coupling); and two-way communication (or coupling), as the case may be, irrespective of the directions of arrows, in the drawings.
Throughout this specification, where applicable, the use of the phrase “at least” is to be construed in association with the suffix “one” i.e. it is to be read along with the suffix “one”, as “at least one”, which is used in the meaning of “one or more”. A person skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the phrase “at least one” is a standard term that is used, in Patent Specifications, to denote any component of a disclosure, which may be present (or disposed) in a single quantity, or more than a single quantity.
Throughout this specification, where applicable, the use of the phrase “at least one” is to be construed in association with a succeeding component name.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “plurality” is to be construed as being inclusive of: “at least one”.
Throughout this specification, the use of the phrase “vehicle”, and its variations, is to be construed as being inclusive of: “a vehicle that can only be powered, by an electric motor, and (or which) draws electricity, from an energy storage system (all-electric vehicle)”. For example, the vehicle is a commuter transport bus.
Throughout this specification, the use of the phrase “energy storage system”, the acronym “ESS”, and variations, is to be construed as being inclusive of: “battery modules; battery packs; battery systems; and/or the like”.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “battery”, and its variations, is to be construed as being inclusive of: “lithium-ion batteries”.
Throughout this specification, the use of the phrase “rear end packaging”, and its variations, is to be construed as being inclusive of: a double decker vehicle with: a door; an air conditioner unit; a motor assembly; power electronics; and a stair case, on a rear end”.
Throughout this specification, the words “the” and “said” are used interchangeably.
Throughout this specification, the phrases “at least a”, “at least an”, and “at least one” are used interchangeably.
Throughout this specification, where applicable, the phrase “energy storage system” and the word “battery” are used interchangeably.
Throughout this specification, the disclosure of a range is to be construed as being inclusive of: the lower limit of the range; and the upper limit of the range.
Also, it is to be noted that embodiments may be described as a method. Although the operations, in a method, are described as a sequential process, many of the operations may be performed in parallel, concurrently, or simultaneously. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A method may be terminated, when its operations are completed, but may also have additional steps.
A semi-low floor double decker vehicle (100) with rear end packaging (also referred to as “vehicle”), is disclosed. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in Figure 2, and Figure 10, said vehicle (100) broadly comprises: a couple of decks, a lower deck (24) and an upper deck (23), for accommodating passengers in two different levels inside the vehicle. Said lower deck (24) and said upper deck (23) are separated by an intermediate floor (37), where a second plurality of seats (38) is disposed (or positioned, or installed) on the upper deck (23). A first plurality of seats (25) is disposed (or positioned, or installed) on a floor structure (9) on the lower deck (24).
The seating configuration in a typical semi-low floor double decker vehicle and the vehicle (100) disclosed herein are illustrated in Figure 8.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle (100) comprises about 30 seats in the lower deck (24), and about 35 seats in the upper deck (23).
A front door (43) and a rear door (20) are disposed on (or positioned on, or installed on) a front overhang (39) and a rear overhang (22), respectively. The front overhang (39) is a portion projecting beyond a front axle (44), and the rear overhang (22) is a portion projecting beyond a rear axle (12).
An energy storage system (36) is disposed on (or positioned on, or installed on) a wheelbase (40), beneath the floor structure (9). The wheelbase (40) is a portion between the front axle (44) and the rear axle (12).
A steering unit (41) and a braking unit (42) are disposed (or positioned, or installed), beneath the floor structure (9), on the front overhang (39). A motor assembly (7), a vehicle charging unit (31), a cooling unit (32), an electric air compressor (33), a DC-DC convertor (34), and an auxiliary inventor (35) are disposed (or positioned, or installed), beneath the floor structure (9), on the rear overhang (22).
The rear door (20) is connected to the floor structure (9) on the lower deck (24) through a rear door foot step (15), and said lower deck (24) is further connected to the upper deck (23) through a rear staircase (6) that is disposed (or positioned, or installed) on the rear overhang (22).
Similarly, the front door (43) is connected to the floor structure (9) on the lower deck (24) through a front door foot step, and said lower deck (24) is further connected to the upper deck (23) through a front staircase (5) that is disposed (or positioned, or installed) on the front overhang (39), and above the front axle (44), thereby providing room for a driver workspace (45).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in Figure 3, said motor assembly (7) is disposed (or positioned, or installed), on the rear overhang (22), closure to the rear axle (12), after the rear wheel and below a frame assembly (10), at an inclination that clears a line of departure angle (8).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the line of departure angle (8) may range between about 8 degrees and about 10 degrees.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the inclination of the motor assembly (7) range between about 3 degrees and about 6 degrees.
A propeller shaft (13) connects the output of the motor assembly (7) with the rear axle (12). Here the floor structure (9) which exactly rests over the frame assembly (10) hinders with the motor assembly (7), causing an intrusion (11).
In order to mitigate the intrusion (11), the floor structure (9) is modified within the permissible floor slope recommendations. The semi-low floor vehicle (2), as illustrated in Figure 4, has a slope or a ramp (29) ascending and/or descending over the rear axle (12) in order to provide sufficient clearance for the rear axle (12) to travel. Subsequently a transverse slope (14), as shown in Figure 5a and Figure 5b, is provided starting from a top most edge of the rear door foot step (15).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the lateral and traverse floor slope angle may range between about 0% and about 8%, and about 0% and about 5%, respectively, with respect to the floor structure (9).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the slope (29) and the traverse slope (14) may range between about 6% and about 8% and about 4% and about 5%, respectively, with respect to the floor structure (9).
Said slope (29), and said transverse slope (14) facilitates elevating the floor structure (9) above the motor assembly (7) against a front portion floor structure (16) of the vehicle (100). The elevated configuration of the floor structure (9) above the motor assembly (7) is achieved through a formed channel (17), a first formed panel (18), and a second formed panel (19).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, an air conditioner unit (21) is disposed (or installed, or positioned), on the rear overhang (22), vertically between a rear pillar (26) and a rear end of the vehicle (100). Since the unavailability of enough room between the rear pillar (26) and the rear end of the vehicle (22, said air conditioner unit (21) is configured as taller and thinner, and disposed (or positioned, or installed) as protruding into the upper deck (23) from the lower deck (24), so as to serve both decks.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in Figure 11, there are dedicated blowers, a first blower (46) and a second blower (49), which supply cold air, to the upper deck (23) and the lower deck (24), respectively, from the air conditioner unit (21). Said first blower (46) supplies cold air to the upper deck (23) through a first transfer duct (47) and a first passenger air duct (48), and said second blower (49) supplies cold air to the lower deck (24) through a second transfer duct (50) and a second passenger air duct (51). The hot air from the upper deck (23) and the lower deck (24) is collected by the air conditioner unit (21) through a return air grill (52) that is strategically disposed (or positioned, or installed) on the middle of said upper deck (23) and said lower deck (24) to ensure efficient cooling.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the capacity of the air conditioner unit (21) is about 52 kW.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the rear staircase (6) is disposed (or installed, or positioned), on the rear overhang (22), between a last seat from the front among the first plurality of seats (25), on the driver side, in a rear side of the vehicle (100), and the air conditioner unit (21). As illustrated in Figure 6 and Figure 7, said rear staircase (6) is positioned in close proximity to the rear door (20) and connects the lower deck (24) with the upper deck (23).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a first step (27) on the rear staircase (6) is configured in such a way that it not only gives a wider entry point to the staircase, and also serves to enhance the clearance above the motor assembly (7) in addition to the clearance provided by the floor structure (9) above the motor assembly (7).
Further, the rear staircase (6) is ergonomically configured to have a seamless passenger movement. The comparison between the conventional rear staircase and the present rear staircase (6) with an intermediate landing (30) are illustrated in Figure 9, wherein former restricts the movement to one passenger at a time, and the latter enables simultaneous movement of passengers to and from the upper deck (23).
The area generally used in the vehicle (22) for installing (or disposing, or positioning) power electronics has been lost as a result of installing the air conditioner unit (21), and the rear door (20). The power electronics, which were replaced by the rear door (20) and the air conditioner unit (21), are disposed (or packaged, or installed, or positioned), on the rear overhang (22), in a void space (28) provided beneath the rear staircase (6).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, said vehicle charging unit (31), said cooling unit (32), said electric air compressor (33), said DC-DC convertor (34), and said auxiliary inventor (35) are collectively called as power electronics.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the dimensions of the vehicle (100) are: length ranges between about 9 meter and about 10.5 meter; width ranges between about 2.5 meter and about 2.6 meter; height is about 4.75 meter; internal height of the lower deck is about 1.9 meter; internal height of the upper deck (23) is about 1.8 meter; and ground clearance ranges between about 250 mm and about 400 mm.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the configurations of the vehicle (100), and its various components, may be varied, based on requirements.
The disclosed vehicle (22) offers at least the following advantages: enhances passenger carrying capacity; enhances passenger ingress/egress speed due to the presence of the front door, the rear door, and the ergonomic rear staircase; enhances the cooling efficiency; and economical option of having a high floor or a semi low floor vehicle with better ground clearance and departure angle requirements, thereby minimizing water ingress.
It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the above description is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting. Various modifications, additions, alterations, and improvements, without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the disclosure, may be made, by a person skilled in the art. Such modifications, additions, alterations, and improvements should be construed as being within the scope of this disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 – Semi-Low Floor Double Decker Vehicle with Rear End Packaging
1 – Low Floor Vehicle
2 – Semi Low Floor Vehicle
3 – Low Floor Double Decker Vehicle
4 – Semi Low Floor Double Decker Vehicle
5 – Front Staircase
6 – Rear Staircase
7 – Motor Assembly
8 – Line of Departure Angle
9 – Rear Floor Structure
10 – Frame Assembly
11 – Intrusion
12 – Rear Axle Assembly
13 – Propeller Shaft
14 – Transverse Slope
15 – Rear Footstep
16 – Front Floor Structure
17 – First Formed Panels
18 – First Formed Panels
19 – Second Formed Panels
20 – Rear Door
21 – Air Conditioner Unit
22 – Rear Overhang
23 – Upper Deck
24 – Lower Deck
25 – First Plurality of Seats
26 – Rear Piller
27 – First Step on the Rear Staircase
28 – Void Space
29 – Slope or Ramp
30 – Intermediate Landing
31 – Vehicle Charging Unit
32 – Cooling Unit
33 – Electric Air Compressor
34 – DC-DC Convertor
35 - Auxiliary Inventor
36 – Energy Storage System
37 – Intermediate Floor
38 – Second Plurality of Seats
39 – Front Overhang
40 – Wheelbase
41 – Steering Unit
42 – Braking Unit
43 – Front Door
44 – Front Axle
45 - Driver Workspace
46 – Frist Blower
47 – First Transfer Duct
48 – First Passenger Air Duct
49 – Second Blower
50 – Second Transfer Duct
51 – Second Passenger Air Duct
52 – Return Air Grill
, C , Claims:1. A semi-low floor double decker vehicle (100) with rear end packaging, comprising:
a couple of decks, a lower deck (24) and an upper deck (23), which accommodating passengers in two different levels inside the vehicle (100), with: said lower deck (24) and said upper deck (23) being separated by an intermediate floor (37), where a second plurality of seats (38) being disposed on the upper deck (23), and a first plurality of seats (25) being disposed on a floor structure (9) on the lower deck (24);
a front door (43) and a rear door (20) that are disposed on a front overhang (39) and a rear overhang (22), respectively, with:
said rear door (20) being connected to the floor structure (9) on the lower deck (24) through a rear door foot step (15), with: said lower deck (24) being connected to the upper deck (23) through a rear staircase (6) that is disposed on the rear overhang (22); and
said front door (43) being connected to the floor structure (9) on the lower deck (24) through a front door foot step, with: said lower deck (24) being connected to the upper deck (23) through a front staircase (5) that is disposed on the front overhang (39), and above the front axle (44), thereby providing room for a driver workspace (45);
an energy storage system (36) that is disposed on a wheelbase (40), beneath the floor structure (9);
a steering unit (41) and a braking unit (42) that are disposed beneath the floor structure (9), on the front overhang (39);
a motor assembly (7) and a power electronics that are disposed beneath the floor structure (9), on the rear overhang (22);
a slope (29) that ascending or descending over the rear axle (12) to provide clearance for the rear axle (12) to travel, and a transverse slope (14) that is starting from a top most edge of the rear door foot step (15), with:
said slope (29) and said transverse slope (14) elevating the floor structure (9) above the motor assembly (7) against a front portion floor structure (16) of the vehicle (100);
an air conditioner unit (21) that is disposed on the rear overhang (22), vertically between a rear pillar (26) and a rear end of the vehicle (100), and protruding into the upper deck (23) from the lower deck (24); and
a first blower (46) and a second blower (49), which supply cold air, to the upper deck (23) and the lower deck (24), respectively, from the air conditioner unit (21).
2. The semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the motor assembly (7) being disposed on the rear overhang (22), closure to the rear axle (12), after the rear wheel and below a frame assembly (10), at an inclination that clears a line of departure angle (8).
3. The semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the first blower (46) supplies cold air to the upper deck (23) through a first transfer duct (47) and a first passenger air duct (48), and said second blower (49) supplies cold air to the lower deck (24) through a second transfer duct (50) and a second passenger air duct (51); and
the hot air from the upper deck (23) and the lower deck (24) being collected by the air conditioner unit (21) through a return air grill (52) that is disposed on the middle of said upper deck (23) and said lower deck (24).
4. The semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the rear staircase (6) being disposed on the rear overhang (22), between a last seat from the front, on the driver side, among the first plurality of seats (25), in a rear side of the vehicle (100), and the air conditioner unit (21), with:
a first step (27) on the rear staircase (6) being configured to enhance the clearance above the motor assembly (7); and
said rear staircase (6) comprise an intermediate landing (30) that enabling simultaneous movement of passengers to and from the upper deck (23).
5. The semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the power electronics includes: a vehicle charging unit (31), a cooling unit (32), an electric air compressor (33), a DC-DC convertor (34), and an auxiliary inventor (35).
6. The semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the line of departure angle (8) range between 8 degrees and 10 degrees.
7. The semi-low floor double decker vehicle with rear end packaging, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the slope (29), and the traverse slope (14) range between 6% and 8%, and 4% and 5%, respectively, with respect to the floor structure (9).