Annular Engine Compartment Cross Member for Front Collision Load Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing weight of batteries in electric vehicles due to their mounting under the floor leads to higher collision energy during front collisions, necessitating improved energy absorption and reduced barrier entry distance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle front structure featuring an annular engine compartment cross member with a rear cross member curved towards the rear, connecting to a dash panel with higher strength, and a front cross member with a square closed cross-section to enhance rigidity and distribute collision loads effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the battery weight under the floor is increased to provide more energy, then the vehicle body weight increases, but the collision energy absorption amount is insufficient and barrier entry distance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rear cross member is designed with a curved shape protruding toward the rear, which improves the rigidity of the engine compartment cross member in the longitudinal direction. This curved structure enables more effective transmission of collision loads to the rear portion of the cross member and to the high-strength portion of the dash panel, thereby enhancing collision energy absorption while restraining barrier entry distance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a three-dimensional curved configuration in the rear cross member that extends in multiple directions. By curving the rear cross member toward the rear and connecting it to the high-strength portion of the dash panel, the structure creates additional load transmission paths in different spatial dimensions, improving overall collision energy absorption capability
2Stability of the object's composition
If the engine compartment cross member is made more rigid to reduce barrier entry distance, then the collision load transmission is improved, but the deformation suppression may cause stress concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The engine compartment cross member employs different structural characteristics in different portions: the rear cross member is curved to provide high rigidity for load transmission, while the side members are designed with attachment portions for the curved cross member that allow controlled deformation. This local differentiation of structural properties enables effective collision load transmission without causing stress concentration
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle front structure comprising a pair of front side members which are provided on both side portions at a vehicle front side and extended in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and an engine compartment cross member which is attached between the pair of front side members, wherein the engine compartment cross member is an annular member including a pair of side members which are respectively attached to the inside surface in the vehicle width direction of each of the front side members and extended in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a front cross member which connects respective front ends of the pair of side members in the vehicle width direction, and a rear cross member which connects respective rear ends of the pair of the side members in the vehicle width direction, and the rear cross member is curved to protrude toward the rear side of the vehicle.