Hall Labs LLC

Other

Vanderhall Motor Works, Inc.

Hell Labs LLC

Christopher Johnson

Stephen R Hall

David R Hall

Jason S Simpson

Jedediah Knight

Joseph C Duncan

Eric Magleby

Andrew Sims

Travis Niederhauser

A vehicle configured to operate in a normal steering mode and a differential steering mode is disclosed. The vehicle includes at least three wheels with the first and second wheels disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle. First and second motors, independently controllable by a motor control unit, drive the corresponding wheels. A steering shaft connects a steering mechanism for changing the angle of travel of at least one wheel to a steering wheel, when the vehicle operates in the normal steering mode. When the vehicle operates in a differential steering mode, a steering lock mechanism locks the at least one wheel in a fixed angle of travel, and a sensor senses the direction the steering wheel is turned. The motor controller causes the motor to rotate the first and second wheels at different rotational speeds to turn the vehicle the direction the steering wheel is turned.

Vehicle with normal and differential steering modes

An electric vehicle may include a frame, wheel assemblies, an electric motor, a rechargeable battery, and a battery compartment in which the rechargeable battery is secured to the vehicle. The electric motor may be supported by and/or coupled to the unitized frame. The electric motor may be coupled to at least one of the wheel assemblies. The rechargeable battery may be electrically coupled to the electric motor and power the electric motor. The rechargeable battery may be housed by and/or within the battery compartment. The battery compartment may be disposed above the frame and along a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. The battery compartment may have a length of one-third or more of the longitudinal length of the frame. The length of the battery compartment may be more than three times a width of the battery compartment.

Electric vehicle battery compartment

Three-wheeled roadster

Reverse trike vehicle

A wheel assembly for an automotive vehicle is described herein. The assembly includes a cylindrical rim, a tire around the rim, two spoke assemblies, a wheel hub, a brake assembly, and a mounting arm. The rim is symmetrical, and has a first flange on a first side of the rim and a second flange on a second side of the rim. The tire is disposed around the rim. The first spoke assembly is coupled to the first flange and has a hub-mounting structure at its center. The second spoke assembly is coupled to the second flange and has an opening at its center. The wheel hub and brake assembly are disposed inside the rim between the first and second spoke assemblies, coupled to the hub-mounting structure. The mounting arm passes through the opening at the center of the second spoke assembly and couples the wheel assembly to the vehicle.

Automotive wheel with spoke assemblies on opposing sides

A thermoforming apparatus is described herein. The apparatus may include a pressure mechanism, a thermal device, a plurality of individually actuatable pins, and/or a pin actuation mechanism. The pressure mechanism may create a force against a die surface. The thermal device may change a thermal state of a material forced by the pressure mechanism against the die surface. The plurality of individually actuatable pins may form the die surface. The pin actuation mechanism may be connected to the plurality of actuatable pins and/or may actuate the pins. This apparatus improves on prior solutions in many ways. For example, embodiments of the thermoforming apparatus may require significantly less time between different molds than previous thermoforming machines and 3D printers.

Pin die thermoforming apparatus

Automotive wheel

An exchangeable electric vehicle battery receptacle, kiosk is disclosed herein. The kiosk includes a receptacle, a bell crank and solenoid that lock a battery in the receptacle, and circuitry that dispenses the battery. The bell crank includes a first arm extending into the receptacle and a second arm coupled to an extension spring that is coupled to a fixed point on the kiosk. The battery includes a form factor dimensioned to fit at least partially around the first arm. The solenoid has an armature and is positioned adjacent to the second arm. The armature fixes the bell crank and fixes the extension spring in an extended state, thereby locking the battery in the receptacle slot. The circuitry retracts the armature into the solenoid. A retraction force on the second arm by the extension spring rotates the bell crank, at least partially dispensing the exchangeable battery from the receptacle slot.

Exchangeable electric vehicle battery receptacle, kiosk, and infrastructure

An out-of-autoclave compression molding system is disclosed herein. The system includes a mold, a vacuum bag, a vacuum valve, a pressure plate, and a pressure valve. The mold includes a concave feature and a flange. The vacuum bag covers at least the concave feature. The pressure plate is positioned outside the vacuum bag clamped to the flange and on the mold to form a pressure cavity between the vacuum bag and the plate. An out-of-autoclave compression molding process is also described. The process includes pressing a composite material and thermoset resin into a mold having a flange; surrounding the mold, composite material, and resin with a vacuum bag; sealing and evacuating the vacuum bag; clamping a pressure plate to the flange; and pressurizing the cavity.

Out-of-autoclave compression molding

A three-wheeled automobile is described herein. The automobile may include a unibody frame, a flexible engine cowling, and a fastener. The unibody frame may include an exposed unibody panel and/or a removable-panel securing fixture disposed adjacent to the exposed unibody panel. The engine cowling may be secured to the securing fixture. The fastener may pass through the engine cowling panel and may be affixed to the securing fixture, thereby securing the engine cowling panel to the unibody frame. The engine cowling panel may pass over the securing fixture and/or behind the unibody panel. The engine cowling panel may be pressed against the unibody panel outwards from the automobile by a bending force in the engine cowling panel such that the exposed unibody panel may prevent bowing of an outside edge of the engine cowling panel directly adjacent to the unibody panel.

Vehicle body panel securing structure

A vehicle wheel alignment rack is described herein that includes at least one laser and a target. The laser is removably coupled to a wheel of a vehicle. The target corresponds to the laser and is disposed at an opposite end of the vehicle from the laser. The target is directly and removably coupled to a frame of the vehicle such that the target is aligned with the frame at a known angle. The wheel is aligned to the frame by comparing the known angle to an expected and actual position on the target where a beam of light from the laser strikes the target. Some embodiments of the claimed invention include at least a second laser and a second target similarly disposed. Various means of coupling the target or targets to the frame are also disclosed herein.

Three-wheeled vehicle alignment rack system

A vehicle is described herein that includes a unibody vehicle frame, a vehicle body panel, and one or more monolithic tripartite support mechanisms, which mechanisms provide structural support for at least three frame-mounted vehicle components. Each support mechanism includes a windshield support arm, a side view mirror support arm, and a body panel fixing plate. The side view mirror support arm extends from the windshield support, and the body panel fixing plate extends from the windshield support arm, the side-view mirror support arm, or both. Additionally, the windshield support arm holds a windshield to the vehicle, the side view mirror support arm holds a side view mirror to the vehicle, and the fixing plate secures the body panel to the frame.

Tripartite support mechanism for frame-mounted vehicle components

A three-wheeled vehicle crumple zone is described. The crumple zone includes a triangular, single-sided swing arm coupling a wheel to a frame of the vehicle at an end-most portion of the vehicle. The swing arm includes a u-shaped frame yoke coupling the swing arm to the frame and an angled wheel yoke coupling the wheel to the swing arm. The wheel yoke extends from the frame yoke at an angle ranging from 40 to 70 degrees, such that the frame yoke, the wheel yoke, and a centerline axis extending perpendicularly from the frame yoke form a right triangle.

Three-wheeled vehicle crumple zone

Several grill assemblies and methods for assembling the same are claimed and disclosed. In one embodiment, the assembly includes slotted panels with a single deformable wall to fix the slotted panels together. In another embodiment, slotted panels are fixed together using two deformable walls, one deformed subsequently after the other. The general shape of panels and grill assemblies is disclosed. Features of grill assembly members used to mount the grill to separate structural frame members and mount separate assemblies to the grill assembly are also disclosed.

Grill assembly and method of assembly thereof

An articulating prop to prop panels in an open position is disclosed. In one embodiment, the prop includes a protrusion that rests in a groove to lock members of the articulating prop in position. An external force causes the articulating prop members to rotate into a locked position. In another embodiment, an additional latch is disclosed which further locks the articulating prop in a locked position. An external force causes the articulating prop member to rotate out of a locked position. Shapes and interfaces of handles of the articulating prop are disclosed. Openings and pivotal axes of members of the articulating prop are also disclosed herein.

Growing community of inventors

Provo, UT, United States of America

Christopher Johnson