Patent ID: 12221152

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIG.1, the numeral1indicates a motor vehicle comprising a body2defining a passenger compartment3.

It should be specified that, below in this description, expressions such as “above”, “below”, “in front of”, “behind” and the like are used with reference to the normal driving direction of the motor vehicle1.

The motor vehicle1further comprises (FIG.5):one pair of front wheels6and one pair of rear wheels7;an engine9of a known type, not shown in detail and operatively connected to the wheels6and/or7to exert a driving torque on the wheels6and/or7;a gearbox20interposed between the engine9and the wheels6and/or7, which can be operated to vary the transmission ratio between an output member of the engine9and the wheels6,7; anda braking system21which can be operated to exert a braking torque on the wheels6,7.

The motor vehicle1further comprises (FIG.1):a windscreen5delimiting the passenger compartment3at the front;a backrest (not shown) delimiting the passenger compartment3at the rear;a roof26delimiting the passenger compartment3at the top; anda pair of doors8ahinged to the body2and movable between a closed position, wherein they delimit the passenger compartment3at the sides and prevent entry into/exit from the passenger compartment3, and an open position, wherein they allow entry into/exit from the passenger compartment3.

It is also possible to define:a longitudinal axis X integral with the motor vehicle1, arranged, in use, horizontal and parallel to a normal driving direction of the motor vehicle1;a transversal axis Y integral with the motor vehicle1, arranged, in use, horizontal and orthogonal to the axis X; andan axis Z integral with the motor vehicle1, arranged, in use, vertical and orthogonal to the axes X, Y.

The body2also comprises a pair of longitudinal, end door sills23,24, opposite each other. The door sills23,24delimit the passenger compartment3and are adjacent to respective doors8awhen the doors8aare in their closed positions.

In addition, the motor vehicle1comprises control members10which can be operated by the driver to set a forward trajectory of the motor vehicle1at a desired speed.

As is well known, the control members10comprise:a steering mechanism11arranged inside the passenger compartment3and operable by the driver; anda set of pedals12(only schematically shown inFIG.5) also arranged inside the passenger compartment3and operable by the driver.

The set of pedals12comprises, in a nutshell and in a manner not described in detail as it is not necessary for the purpose of the present invention and only schematically illustrated inFIG.5:an accelerator pedal17protruding outwards from the base13and operable from a released position to a full stroke position in order to adjust the value of the driving torque generated by the engine9; anda brake pedal18also protruding from the base13and operable to exert an adjustable braking torque value generated by the braking system21on the wheels6and/or7.

If the engine9is an electric engine, the gearbox20and the clutch pedal are not present.

If the gearbox20is semi-automatic or automatic, the clutch pedal is not present.

The control members10are connected to the engine and wheels6and/or7through a drive-by-wire mode, thus producing a technology known in the industry as ‘drive by wire’.

The term ‘drive by wire’ in the present description is intended to mean that the steering mechanism11has no physical or mechanical connection to the wheels6,7.

Similarly, the accelerator pedal17has no physical or mechanical connection to the engine9, and the brake pedal17has no mechanical connection to the braking system21.

The passenger compartment3further comprises a front location25which defines a driver's seat.

The location25is only schematically shown inFIG.1.

The passenger compartment3of the motor vehicle1is selectively movable, in a manner not described in detail because it is not necessary for the understanding of the present invention, between:a ‘two-seater’ configuration, in which the location25defines a first seat for a driver and a second seat for a passenger arranged side-by-side along the axis Y; anda ‘single-seater’ configuration, in which the location25defines a single third seat for the driver.

In the ‘two-seater’ configuration, the first seat is beside the door sill23, and the second seat is beside the door sill24.

In addition, the first seat faces the steering mechanism11and the set of pedals12to allow the driver to operate the steering mechanism11and the set of pedals12.

In the ‘single-seater’ configuration, the third seat is arranged in a central position between the door sills23,24and faces the steering mechanism11and the set of pedals12.

The steering mechanism11, in turn, comprises (FIGS.2to4):a support body60fixed to the body2;a steering shaft61mounted so that it can rotate around an axis H within the support body60; anda steering wheel62which can be gripped by the driver to rotate the steering shaft61around the axis H by an angle associated with a desired steering angle of the wheels6,7.

The motor vehicle1also comprises a control unit45(FIG.5) programmed to receive, as input, the operations requested from the steering mechanism11and set of pedals12and to generate, as output, appropriate control signals for the engine9, gearbox20, braking system21and wheels6,7.

In particular, the control unit45is programmed to control the rotation of the wheels6,7by an angle associated with the angle of rotation of the steering wheel62around the axis H and in the same direction of rotation.

In the case illustrated herein, the axis H is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane defined by the axes X, Y by an angle α (FIG.4).

The steering mechanism11also comprises a lever65that can be selectively moved between:a locking position, in which it fixedly constrains the steering shaft61to the support body60; andan adjustment position, in which it allows the steering shaft61to slide relative to the support body60along the axis H and the consequent adjustment of the position of the steering wheel62relative to the body2along the axis H, and the rotation of a centre O of the steering wheel62along an arc of a circle lying in the plane defined by the axes X, Z and the consequent adjustment of the angle α defined between the axes X, H.

Advantageously, the steering mechanism11can be moved along the axis Y to allow the motor vehicle1to be moved between the first and the second configuration.

In this way, the steering mechanism11can be moved parallel to the axis Y between:a first position (FIG.2) taken on when the passenger compartment3is in the first configuration and the steering wheel62faces the first seat defined by the location25; anda second position (FIG.3) taken on when the passenger compartment3is in the second configuration and the steering wheel62faces the third seat defined by the location25.

The steering mechanism11is adjacent to the door sill23when it is arranged in the first position (FIG.2). In this first position, a first distance between the steering wheel62and the door sill23is smaller than a second distance between the steering wheel62and the door sill24. Said first and second distances are measured along the axis Y.

A left-hand driving mode of the motor vehicle1is thus achieved.

In greater detail, the steering wheel62is in a central position between the door sills23,24, when the steering mechanism12is in the second position (FIG.3). In this second position, the steering wheel62is equally spaced apart from the door sills23,24along the axis Y.

With reference toFIGS.2to4, the body2also comprises a pair of cross members50,51elongated along respective axes J parallel to the axis Y and spaced apart along the axis X.

The cross member50is arranged in front of the cross member51.

The cross members50,51extend over the full width of the motor vehicle1along the axis Y and comprise:respective first ends adjacent to the door sill23of the body2; andrespective second ends adjacent to the door sill24of the body2.

The cross members50,51, in turn, comprise:respective box-shaped support bodies74,75fixed to the body2; andrespective hollow elements78,79fixed to corresponding support bodies74,75and defining corresponding seats95,97open parallel to the axis Y and slidably engaged parallel to the axis Y by respective slides52,53.

In addition, the passenger compartment3comprises a connection assembly30(FIGS.2to4) interposed between the steering mechanism1and the body2and designed to enable the translation of the steering mechanism12parallel to the axis Y between the first and the second position.

The connection assembly30, in turn, comprises:a pair of guides52,53elongated along respective axes J and spaced apart along the axis X, and arranged within respective box-shaped bodies74,75defined by respective cross members50,51;a pair of slides76,77elongated along respective axes J and spaced apart along the axis X, and slidable on respective guides52,53along said respective axes J; andan electric motor55operatively connected to the slides76,77via a transmission assembly56and operable to convert the rotation of a pair of output shafts70,71of the electric motor55around a common axis I into the sliding of the slides76,77on the relevant guides52,53parallel to the axis Y and the consequent movement of the steering mechanism11between the first and the second position.

The slide76, in particular, is arranged in front of the slide77.

The guides52,53and the slides76,77are arranged at a top face54of the support body60.

The guides52,53and the related slides76,77are also arranged below the corresponding cross members50,51.

In particular, the guides52,53are arranged within respective seats95,97of corresponding cross members50,51.

The guides52,53and the respective seats95,97extend substantially to a width equal to half the width of the cross members50,51and of the motor vehicle1along the axis Y, and comprise:respective first ends adjacent to the door sill23of the body2; andrespective second ends equally spaced apart between the door sills23,24parallel to the axis Y.

The axis I is parallel to the axis H.

With reference toFIG.4, the transmission assembly56, in turn, comprises:a pair of flexible shafts80,81angularly integral with respective output shafts70,71of the electric motor55around the axis I;a pair of connection elements90, each functionally interposed between a flexible shaft80,81and a respective slide76,77, and each configured to convert the rotation in a first (second) direction of the respective flexible shaft80into the translation in a first (second) direction of the respective slide76,77along the respective axis J parallel to the axis Y.

Each connection element90comprises, in particular (FIG.4):a related helical gear wheel92, keyed to the respective flexible shaft80,81, so that it can rotate integrally with its flexible shaft80,81around the axis I, and defining a respective seat89engaged by the flexible shaft80,81; anda related rack94carried by the respective slide76,77, elongated along the respective axis J and meshing with the respective gear wheel92in a radially external position with respect to the related seat89.

The motor vehicle1further comprises a system for moving the set of pedals12parallel to the axis Y, which is not described in detail as it is not part of the present invention.

In a nutshell, the above-mentioned movement system is operable to cause the movement of the set of pedals12parallel to the axis Y between:a third position taken on when the passenger compartment3is in the first configuration and the steering mechanism11is in the first position and faces the first seat defined by the location25; anda fourth position taken on when the passenger compartment3is in the second configuration and the steering mechanism11is in the second position and faces the third seat defined by the location25.

The set of pedals12is adjacent to the door sill23when it is in the third position.

The set of pedals12is in a central position between the door sills23,24when it is in the fourth position.

The operation of the motor vehicle1is described starting from a condition in which the passenger compartment3is in the ‘two-seater’ configuration.

The operation of the motor vehicle1is also described starting from a condition in which the lever65is in the locking position.

In this ‘two-seater’ configuration, the location25defines the first seat for the driver and the second seat for a passenger arranged side-by-side parallel to the axis Y.

More precisely, the first seat is beside the door sill23, and the second seat is beside the door sill24parallel to the axis Y.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the steering mechanism11and the set of pedals12(not shown in the aforementionedFIGS.1and2) are also arranged in the first and the third position, respectively, in which they face the first seat defined by the location25along the axis X.

In addition, the first seat faces the steering mechanism11and the set of pedals12along the axis X to allow the driver to operate the steering mechanism11and the set of pedals12and thus control the forward trajectory and the speed of the motor vehicle1.

If it is desired to reconfigure the motor vehicle1so as to arrange the passenger compartment3into the ‘single-seater’ configuration, it is sufficient to operate the electric motor55in a first direction via a dedicated control and under certain operating conditions of the motor vehicle1.

The operation of the electric motor55in the first direction causes the output shafts70,71and the respective flexible shafts80,81to rotate in the same first direction around the axis I.

These rotations of the flexible shafts80,81cause, through the respective connection elements90, the translation of the slides76,77along the respective axes J and, therefore, of the steering mechanism11in the first direction along the axis Y in relation to the body2.

More specifically, the rotations of the flexible shafts80,81around the axis I result in the rotation of the respective gear wheels92around the axis I, and the translation of the respective racks94and slides76,77parallel to the respective axes J.

Since the transmission of motion between the gear wheels92and the respective racks94is irreversible, the slides76,77remain in the desired position in the event of a stop or failure of the electric motor55.

As a result, the steering mechanism11reaches the second position shown inFIG.3in which it faces the third seat defined by the driving position.

More precisely, the steering mechanism11is in a central position between the door sills23,24when it is in the second position.

The system for moving the steering mechanism11is operated to cause the movement of the set of pedals12parallel to the axis Y until it reaches the fourth position.

The set of pedals12is in a central position between the door sills23,24and faces the third position defined by the location25when it is in the fourth position.

The location25is reconfigured so as to only define the third seat for the driver, which is not necessary for the understanding of the present invention.

The single third seat is arranged in a central position between the door sills23,24and faces the steering mechanism11and the set of pedals12.

At this point, the passenger compartment3has taken on the ‘single-seater’ configuration.

The passenger compartment3is repositioned from the ‘single-seater’ configuration to the ‘two-seater’ configuration by simply operating the electric motor55in a second direction opposite the first direction, so as to return the steering mechanism11to the first position.

Subsequently or simultaneously, the set of pedals12is arranged into the third position and the location25is reconfigured to define the first seat for the driver and the second seat.

Both when the passenger compartment3is in the ‘two-seater’ configuration and when the passenger compartment3is in the ‘single-seater’ configuration, the position of the steering wheel62in relation to the body2along the axis H and the value of the angle α can be adjusted simply by moving the lever65into the unlocking position and moving the steering shaft61and steering wheel62in relation to the support body60and then arranging the lever65into the locking position once the above adjustment is complete.

The advantages enabled by the present invention will be apparent from an examination thereof.

In greater detail, the steering mechanism11can be moved along the axis Y between the first and the second position, so that the passenger compartment3can be moved between the ‘two-seater’ configuration and the ‘single-seater’ configuration.

In fact, the steering wheel62in the first position of the steering mechanism11faces, along the axis X, the first seat for the driver defined by the location25adjacent to the door sill23.

Similarly, the steering wheel62in the second position of the steering mechanism11faces, along the axis X, the single third seat for the driver defined by the location25in a central position between the door sills23,24along the axis Y.

The electric motor55and the transmission assembly56formed by the flexible shafts80,81and the respective connection elements90ensure a fast and precise movement of the steering mechanism11between the above-mentioned first and second positions.

The connection elements90irreversibly transmit the motion from the electric motor55to the respective slides76,77due to the presence of the coupling between respective gear wheels92and the corresponding racks94.

This ensures that the slides76,77remain in the desired position in the event of a stop or failure of the electric motor55.

The fact that the slides76,77are fixed to the support body60of the steering mechanism12allows the position of the steering wheel62along the axis H and the angle α to be adjusted by simply operating the lever65both when the motor vehicle1is in the ‘single-seater’ configuration and when the motor vehicle1is in the ‘two-seater’ configuration.

Lastly, it is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the motor vehicle1and the reconfiguration method according to the present invention, without however departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims.

In particular, in the ‘two-seater’ configuration, the first seat could be positioned facing the door sill24and the second seat could be positioned facing the door sill24, thus achieving a right-hand driving mode of the motor vehicle1.