Battery Frame Deformation Zone for Side-Impact Seat Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing frame structures for supporting traction batteries in vehicles often deform in ways that can harm occupants or affect other vehicle parts during a side impact, lacking effective control over deformation to safely absorb collision energy.
Innovation Solution
A frame structure with lateral support members featuring controlled deformation zones aligned between vehicle seats, designed to absorb energy from side impacts without penetrating into the seat area, thereby protecting occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the frame structure is designed to deform in a predetermined way to absorb energy from crash, then the energy absorption capability is improved, but the risk of deforming into the vehicle seats and harming occupants increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure incorporates a deformation zone with specific local geometric features (recesses, holes, or reduced wall thickness) that create a predetermined deformation path. This local modification allows the frame to deform in a controlled manner during side impact, absorbing energy while directing the deformation away from the vehicle seats and toward the center of the vehicle, thereby protecting occupants while maintaining energy absorption capability
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation zone acts as an intermediary element between the lateral support members and the vehicle seats. By introducing this intermediate deformation region with tailored geometric features, the frame structure absorbs impact energy through controlled deformation of the deformation zone itself, preventing the lateral support members from directly deforming into or penetrating the vehicle seats, thus mediating between energy absorption requirements and occupant safety
2Strength
If the lateral support members are made stronger to protect the battery, then the battery protection capability is improved, but the deformation control and energy absorption capability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral support members are designed with non-uniform cross-sections featuring deformation zones that have reduced wall thickness, recesses, or holes compared to the rest of the member. This local quality variation creates a gradient in mechanical properties: the majority of the lateral support member maintains high strength to protect the battery, while the localized deformation zone is engineered to deform at lower forces, enabling energy absorption through controlled deformation of this specific region
3Loss of energy
If the deformation zone is positioned to absorb energy effectively, then the energy absorption capability is improved, but the risk of penetrating into the vehicle compartment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deformation zone is positioned asymmetrically within the lateral support member, specifically closer to the center of the vehicle rather than uniformly distributed or positioned near the outer edges. This asymmetric positioning ensures that when the deformation zone deforms during side impact, the deformation occurs in the central region of the vehicle, naturally directing the deformation away from the vehicle compartment and seats located at the periphery, thereby reducing penetration risk while maintaining energy absorption effectiveness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The frame structure effectively absorbs collision energy through controlled deformation, reducing the risk of injury to occupants by ensuring deformation occurs away from the seat area, thus enhancing safety during side impacts.
Implementation Method 1
the deformation zones may be configured to deform telescopically along a longitudinal axis of the lateral support members
Implementation Method 2
the deformation zone is adapted to deform in response to a lateral force exerted on the lateral support member
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to a frame structure for maintaining energy storage devices of a vehicle in position which is deformed in a controlled way in the event of a side-impact, in such as way to avoid deforming into the location of the vehicle seats. The proposed frame structure is adapted to deform controllably in a centre position align with a location between the vehicle seats. In this way are occupants of the vehicle kept safe since no or less deformation occur in the vehicle seat location. The above advantages are provided by that lateral support members of the frame includes a deformation zone adapted to deform in response to a lateral force exerted on the lateral support member. The deformation zone is located such that, when the frame structure is installed in the vehicle, the deformation zone is aligned with a location between seats of the vehicle.