US5813487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Omnibus
Assignee: GOTTLOB AUWAERTER & Co KG GmbH
•
Filing: 1997-02-28
•
Granted: 1998-09-29
•
Expires: 2017-02-28
Abstract
Abstract An omnibus with steered front wheels as well as steered and driven rear wheels, the rear wheels being arranged in the region of a rear end of the omnibus such that wheel housings associated with the rear wheels are arranged essentially at the rear end and/or outside the passenger compartment. A particularly compact and economical drive is obtained due to fact that the drive for the rear wheels comprises an electric drive, wherein the rear wheels are driven by wheel hub motors free of slip and the wheel hub motors are designed as electric motors.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Lee
- 👤 Karl-Heinz David
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:50
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W20/00; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/34; B60K5/00; B60K5/04; B60K6/00; B60K6/20; B60K6/42; B60K6/46; B60L; B60L15/00; B60L15/20; B60L15/2036; B60L50/00; B60L50/50; B60L50/60; B60L50/61; B60L50/62; B60W10/00; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; B60W10/08; B60W10/24; B60W10/26; B62; B62D; B62D47/00; B62D47/02; B62D7/00; B62D7/06; B62D7/14; B62D7/142; B62D7/15; B62D7/159; B60G; B60G2300/00; B60G2300/14; B60K1/00; B60K1/02; B60K7/00; B60K7/0007; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/18; B60Y; B60Y2200/00; B60Y2200/10; B60Y2200/14; B60Y2200/143; B60Y2200/1432; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/62; Y02T10/64; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/7072; Y02T10/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An omnibus comprising: steered front wheels as well as steered and driven rear wheels, said rear wheels being arranged in a rear end region of the omnibus such that wheel housings associated with the rear wheels are arranged essentially at the rear end of the omnibus; and an electric drive comprising at least one electric wheel hub motor free of slip for driving the rear wheels; wherein a steering movement of the rear wheels is coupled to a steering movement of the front wheels such that a predeterminable, virtual wheelbase R v is generated which is shorter than an actual wheelbase R t .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An omnibus comprising: steered front wheels as well as steered and driven rear wheels, said rear wheels being arranged in a rear end region of the omnibus such that wheel housings associated with the rear wheels are arranged essentially at the rear end of the omnibus; and an electric drive comprising at least one electric wheel hub motor free of slip for driving the rear wheels; wherein a steering movement of the rear wheels is coupled to a steering movement of the front wheels such that a predeterminable, virtual wheelbase R v is generated which is shorter than an actual wheelbase R t .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, wherein a separate electric wheel hub motor is connected to each rear wheel via a respective gear unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, wherein the drive for the rear wheels comprises a generator driven by an internal combustion engine for supplying current to said at least one wheel hub motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 3, wherein the internal combustion engine is one of a diesel engine and gasoline engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, wherein the drive for the rear wheels comprises an accumulator used as an energy storage means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, wherein: a control unit is provided for controlling or regulating the electric drive, a supply of energy therefor, and optionally a feedback of energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, further comprising: one drive unit, including a rear axle, for driving, steering and braking the rear wheels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 7, wherein the drive unit has a common housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 8, wherein the housing is substantially soundproof in relation to a body of the omnibus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 7, wherein a body of the omnibus is essentially produced from a fiber composite material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 7, wherein the drive unit is connected to a body of the omnibus via sound absorbing and/or shock-absorbing structural elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 7, wherein the drive unit provides control via linkage-less control connections to a body of the omnibus, said connections comprising at least one of electric, pneumatic and hydraulic control lines.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 7 wherein the drive unit is adapted to be coupled to and uncoupled from a body of the omnibus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 12, wherein: the control connections have rapid action couplings, such as plug connections, in the region of a transition between the body and the drive unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 7, wherein the drive unit is adapted to be attached to different bodies.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 11, wherein the drive unit is adapted to be attached to different bodies.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 14, wherein the drive unit is adapted to be attached to different bodies.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 7, wherein the drive unit forms a rear part of the body of the omnibus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, wherein the virtual wheelbase R v is adjustable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 19, wherein an input element is provided in a driver's compartment of the omnibus for adjusting the virtual wheelbase R v .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 20, wherein: the virtual wheelbase R v is controlled or regulated as a function of a traveling speed of the omnibus, and the virtual wheelbase R v is altered, in particular, towards a longer wheelbase with increasing traveling speed, proceeding from a shorter wheelbase.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 21, wherein the shorter wheelbase is adjustable and the longer wheelbase is specifically predeterminable.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, wherein for maneuvering the omnibus below a certain traveling speed, the coupling of the steering movements of the front wheels and rear wheels is adapted to be overridden and the steering of the rear wheels is adapted to be freely controlled.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, wherein a coupling of the steering movements of the front wheels and the rear wheels takes place without mechanical linkage rods.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 20, wherein a coupling of the steering movements of the front wheels and the rear wheels takes place without mechanical linkage rods.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, wherein the steering of the rear wheels is activated electrically and/or hydraulically.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, wherein the steering of the rear wheels is controlled or regulated as a function of a position of a steering wheel for the steering of the front wheels.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, wherein a steering control unit is provided, said unit controlling or regulating the steering of the rear wheels as a function of the steering of the front wheels.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, wherein the omnibus has a rear axle comprising a twin axle formed from a driven, steered axle and a steered trailing or leading axle.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 1, wherein the omnibus has a drop-frame construction.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
104 words
An omnibus, comprising: steered front wheels as well as steered and driven rear wheels, said rear wheels being arranged in a rear end region of the omnibus such that wheel housings associated with the rear wheels are arranged essentially outside a passenger compartment of the omnibus; and an electric drive comprising at least one electric wheel hub motor free of slip for driving the rear wheels; wherein a steering movement of the rear wheels is coupled to a steering movement of the front wheels such that a predeterminable, virtual wheelbase R v is generated which is shorter than an actual wheelbase R t .
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
104 words
An omnibus, comprising: steered front wheels as well as steered and driven rear wheels, said rear wheels being arranged in a rear end region of the omnibus such that wheel housings associated with the rear wheels are arranged essentially outside a passenger compartment of the omnibus; and an electric drive comprising at least one electric wheel hub motor free of slip for driving the rear wheels; wherein a steering movement of the rear wheels is coupled to a steering movement of the front wheels such that a predeterminable, virtual wheelbase R v is generated which is shorter than an actual wheelbase R t .
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
An omnibus as defined in claim 31, wherein: said wheel housings are arranged essentially at the rear end of the omnibus.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
106 words
An omnibus, comprising: steered front wheels as well as steered and driven rear wheels, said rear wheels being arranged in a rear end region of the omnibus; and an electric drive comprising at least one electric wheel hub motor free of slip for driving the rear wheels; wherein: a steering movement of the rear wheels is coupled to a steering movement of the front wheels; and for maneuvering the omnibus below a certain traveling speed, the coupling of the steering movements of the front wheels and rear wheels is adapted to be overridden and the steering of the rear wheels is adapted to be freely controlled.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
106 words
An omnibus, comprising: steered front wheels as well as steered and driven rear wheels, said rear wheels being arranged in a rear end region of the omnibus; and an electric drive comprising at least one electric wheel hub motor free of slip for driving the rear wheels; wherein: a steering movement of the rear wheels is coupled to a steering movement of the front wheels; and for maneuvering the omnibus below a certain traveling speed, the coupling of the steering movements of the front wheels and rear wheels is adapted to be overridden and the steering of the rear wheels is adapted to be freely controlled.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-28 | 2002-03-30 | 2002-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-28 | 2006-03-30 | 2006-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-28 | 2010-03-30 | 2010-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |