All Seven Alta Patents

[TonyWilliams]

 

[TonyWilliams]

 

[TonyWilliams]

 

[TonyWilliams]

 

[TonyWilliams]

All of the [other previously mentioned, Brammo, Zero, KTM, etc] electric motorcycle manufacturers discussed above use air cooled electric motors. Compared to liquid cooled electric motors, air cooled electric motors have lower peak power outputs and vastly lower continuous power outputs.
[0009]
Given growing consumer demand for high performance, low cost electric vehicles, there is a need for a new electric motorcycle developed around a new type of chassis.
[0010]
In United States Patent Application Publication US 2011/0036657 , there is described a chassis for an electric vehicle including a frame structure comprising two beam members arranged side-by-side with a gap therebetween. Each of the beam members includes a front end connected to the front end of the other beam member and forms a head tube for pivotally retaining a portion of a fork assembly holding a front wheel of the electric vehicle. Each of the beam members includes a rear end fixedly connected to a motor housing.
[0011]
In European Patent Application 0469995 , there is described an electrically powered motorcycle including an electric motor suspended from a frame.
Summary
[0012]
In accordance with the previous invention, there is provided an electric motorcycle frame as set out in the appended claims.
[0013]
In one embodiment the frame comprises two cast aluminum structures that can be bolted together. The frame structures can each be cast in one piece and finish machined with one fixturing. The frame includes a fully stressed torsion tube for housing an electric motor.

 

[TonyWilliams]

 

[TonyWilliams]

SUMMARY
The current invention relates to a vehicle frame, or chassis, and its manufacture. In one embodiment the frame comprises two cast aluminum structures that can be bolted together. The frame structures can each be cast in one piece and finish machined with one fixturing. The frame casting can include an integral motor housing that may be fully stressed and act as a torsion tube.

 

[TonyWilliams]

The actual title to this patent is:

Integrated cast motorcycle chassis and motor housing

 

[TonyWilliams]

 

[TonyWilliams]

 

[Redwolf]

Cool stuff Tony, you've been busy today.

 

[TonyWilliams]

Cool stuff Tony, you've been busy today.

Well, there are things to learn in these filings.

 

[Philip]

Hopefully Tony is done posting patents. I have combined the six patents into one thread because none of them seem to be interesting enough individually to warrant a group discussion.

 

[Philip]

There was at least one more patent -- A heat shield to prevent a thermal runaway. Although I am now having a hard time finding it.

 

[leeo45]

There was at least one more patent -- A heat shield to prevent a thermal runaway. Although I am now having a hard time finding it.

Thermal shield for preventing thermal runaway in a battery assembly

 

[Philip]

 

[TCMB371]

Basically a honeycomb heatsink surrounding the batteries? How did i miss that in Mark's disassembly thread...

 

[TCMB371]

Btw, Phillip, can you do the honors of downloading the full PDF's for the patents and then perhaps adding them to the resource section?

 

[Philip]

Btw, Phillip, can you do the honors of downloading the full PDF's for the patents and then perhaps adding them to the resource section?

Any member can add free resources there. Sounds like you just volunteered!

 

[Mark911]

I didn't read (comprehend) the entire application, however, I've noted the following in my previous posts.
The "emergency overpressure vent" located at the negative end of the cell (which basically ruptures the cells canister) is exposed to a small open area which is then open to a small vertical shaft molded into the cells composite support structure. This shaft runs the length off the cell and exits at the positive end. The little "crescent shaped" cuts in the modules printed circuit board is the exit for the venting shafts as can be seen in my photos. The "thermal shield" that I can see is a high temperature paper like material typically used in kilms, etc. Although I haven't disassembled completely, the shield looks to cover the cell side of the PCB to protect it from any escaping hot gases and direct any discharge upwards away from other cells via the circular holes in the PCB. Obviously, the area at the cells base (- end) and the shaft need to be able to withstand the venting heat due to a possible internal cell short circuit (burst canister) without compromise so as to protect adjacent cells from doing same leading to thermal runaway. I believe that the composite material Alta uses was developed to withstand and prevent propagation of this heat and provide the necessary electrical isolation, thermal conductivity (or resistance in this case) and structural strength they required.
The above discussion relates to the emergency "one time only" overpressure vent system incorporated into the negative end of most high quality high drain 18650 cells. Not to be confused with the top cap (positive end) venting system, which is able to cycle. The emergency vent is the last line of defense the various 18650 cell OEMs use to prevent possible explosion and thermal runaway in battery "packs".