Sep 23, 2025

US12420752 - Military vehicle

A method includes providing a plurality of passenger capsules where each of the plurality of passenger capsules has a frame rail-less monocoque hull structure and the plurality of passenger capsules include (a) a first passenger capsule defining four door openings and (b) a second passenger capsule defining two door openings; providing a plurality of front modules; providing a plurality of rear modules; coupling (a) a first front module to a front end of the first passenger capsule and (b) a first rear module to a rear end of the first passenger capsule to provide a first military vehicle variant; and coupling (a) a second front module to a front end of the second passenger capsule and (b) a second rear module to a rear end of the second passenger capsule to provide a second military vehicle variant.

Assignee: OSHKOSH DEFENSE, LLC
Inventors: Don Verhoff, Gary Schmiedel, Chris Yakes, Rob Messina, Brian Wilkins, Kent Schulte, Daniel R. Seffernick, Joseph Holda, Michael Peotter, David McGraw, Anthony Seefeldt, Dave Pelko, Jesse Gander, Jerry Reineking, Jesse Steinke
Filing date: 2023-11-28

The patent describes a method for producing military vehicles using a modular design that includes passenger capsules with a frame rail-less monocoque hull structure and interchangeable front and rear modules. Each vehicle variant can be customized by coupling different modules to the passenger capsules, allowing for flexibility in design and functionality.

Claim 1

A method for producing military vehicles, the method comprising: providing a plurality of passenger capsules, each of the plurality of passenger capsules having a frame rail-less monocoque hull structure, the plurality of passenger capsules including (a) a first passenger capsule defining four door openings and (b) a second passenger capsule defining two door openings; providing a plurality of front modules, each of the plurality of front modules including a front subframe, a front axle, a front suspension, a front differential, and a prime mover; providing a plurality of rear modules, each of the plurality of rear modules including a rear subframe, a rear axle, a rear suspension, and a transaxle including an internal mechanical disconnect; coupling (a) a first front module of the plurality of front modules to a front end of the first passenger capsule and (b) a first rear module of the plurality of rear modules to a rear end of the first passenger capsule to provide a first military vehicle variant; and coupling (a) a second front module of the plurality of front modules to a front end of the second passenger capsule and (b) a second rear module of the plurality of rear modules to a rear end of the second passenger capsule to provide a second military vehicle variant; wherein the transaxle of one of the plurality of rear modules couples to the front differential of one of the plurality of front modules; and wherein the internal mechanical disconnect of the transaxle of the one of the plurality of rear modules facilitates decoupling the transaxle of the one of the plurality of rear modules from the front differential of the one of the plurality of front modules. providing a plurality of passenger capsules, each of the plurality of passenger capsules having a frame rail-less monocoque hull structure, the plurality of passenger capsules including (a) a first passenger capsule defining four door openings and (b) a second passenger capsule defining two door openings; providing a plurality of front modules, each of the plurality of front modules including a front subframe, a front axle, a front suspension, a front differential, and a prime mover; providing a plurality of rear modules, each of the plurality of rear modules including a rear subframe, a rear axle, a rear suspension, and a transaxle including an internal mechanical disconnect; coupling (a) a first front module of the plurality of front modules to a front end of the first passenger capsule and (b) a first rear module of the plurality of rear modules to a rear end of the first passenger capsule to provide a first military vehicle variant; and coupling (a) a second front module of the plurality of front modules to a front end of the second passenger capsule and (b) a second rear module of the plurality of rear modules to a rear end of the second passenger capsule to provide a second military vehicle variant; wherein the transaxle of one of the plurality of rear modules couples to the front differential of one of the plurality of front modules; and wherein the internal mechanical disconnect of the transaxle of the one of the plurality of rear modules facilitates decoupling the transaxle of the one of the plurality of rear modules from the front differential of the one of the plurality of front modules.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12420752

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12420752