Angled Vehicle Frame Reinforcement for Crash Strength Without Weight Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle manufacturers face a challenge in enhancing structural integrity and crash performance characteristics of vehicle frames while minimizing weight, as adding reinforcement often increases weight, necessitating innovative reinforcement structures that maintain or reduce overall frame weight.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle frame incorporates angled reinforcement structures, including legs and incline portions that form channels, strategically positioned between walls of the frame to distribute loads and absorb impacts, providing structural support and controlled deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If reinforcement structures are added to the vehicle frame to improve structural integrity and crash performance, then the structural integrity and crash performance are improved, but the overall weight of the vehicle frame increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement structure is divided into multiple discrete legs (first leg, second leg, third leg, fourth leg) that are strategically positioned at different locations along the vehicle frame. Each leg provides localized reinforcement, allowing the structure to achieve overall strength without requiring a continuous heavy reinforcement band throughout the entire frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement legs are positioned at specific critical locations where structural support is most needed, such as between the A-pillar and side sill, and between the B-pillar and side sill. This localized placement of reinforcement provides maximum structural benefit at critical stress points while avoiding unnecessary weight addition in non-critical areas.
2Reliability
If reinforcement structures are added to the vehicle frame to improve crash performance characteristics, then the crash performance is improved, but the overall weight of the vehicle frame increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement structure is divided into multiple discrete legs (first leg, second leg, third leg, fourth leg) that are strategically positioned at different locations along the vehicle frame. Each leg provides localized reinforcement, allowing the structure to achieve overall strength without requiring a continuous heavy reinforcement band throughout the entire frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement legs are positioned at specific critical locations where structural support is most needed, such as between the A-pillar and side sill, and between the B-pillar and side sill. This localized placement of reinforcement provides maximum structural benefit at critical stress points while avoiding unnecessary weight addition in non-critical areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle frame includes a first beam with a first wall and a second wall extended in a first beam longitudinal direction, wherein the first wall and the second wall are spaced from each other in a first beam transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the first beam longitudinal direction. The first beam includes at least one first beam reinforcement structure, the at least one first beam reinforcement structure including a first leg and a second leg disposed along the first beam and extended between the first wall and the second wall in the first beam transverse direction. The first leg and the second leg are angled toward each other along the first beam transverse direction from the second wall toward the first wall.