US 11,702,162 B2
Configurable vehicle chassis and associated methods
Michael John Harmon, Westland, MI (US); Hussain Z. Tajmahal, Detroit, MI (US); Marielle Conrad, Detroit, MI (US); Benjamin Jordan Curtis, Ferndale, MI (US); David Earl Ooms, Canton, MI (US); and Yejin Han, Detroit, MI (US)
Assigned to FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/243,390.
Prior Publication US 2022/0348275 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B62D 63/02 (2006.01); B60K 1/04 (2019.01); B62D 21/11 (2006.01); B62D 27/06 (2006.01); B62D 21/03 (2006.01); B60K 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 63/025 (2013.01) [B60K 1/04 (2013.01); B62D 21/03 (2013.01); B62D 21/11 (2013.01); B62D 27/06 (2013.01); B60K 2001/001 (2013.01); B60K 2001/0438 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a first frame subassembly and a second frame subassembly, each of the first and second frame subassemblies defining a wheel axle of a vehicle, the first frame subassembly including a first bridge portion oriented generally upward relative to the wheel axle, the second frame subassembly including a second bridge portion oriented generally downward relative to the wheel axle; and
a central frame couplable to the first frame subassembly via the first bridge portion and couplable to the second frame subassembly via the second bridge portion, the central frame configured for a first ride height when coupled to the first frame subassembly and configured for a second ride height when coupled to the second frame subassembly, the first ride height greater than the second ride height.