Telescopic Boarding Ramp Layout for Collision Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment of a ramp under the vehicle floor poses a risk of bending and damaging high voltage components, such as a traction battery unit, during a collision due to horizontal collision loads.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design that includes a ramp with a base end adjacent to an actuator, guided by a tilted surface that reduces compressive forces, and features enhanced rigidity and strength at the base end to minimize ramp deformation, thereby protecting the high voltage unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the ramp is stored under the floor to maximize cabin space, then the cabin space is increased, but the ramp may be bent by horizontal collision loads and damage the high voltage unit
Solution Approach 1:
The tilted surface acts as an intermediary structure between the ramp and the actuator housing. When collision loads are applied to the ramp, the tilted surface guides the ramp obliquely upward, converting horizontal collision forces into vertical guiding forces, thereby protecting the high voltage unit from ramp deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The tilted surface introduces a vertical dimension to the force guidance mechanism. Instead of allowing horizontal collision forces to directly bend the ramp horizontally, the tilted surface redirects these forces along an oblique path with vertical components, changing the dimensionality of force transmission
2Reliability
If the ramp is positioned adjacent to the actuator in the horizontal direction, then the ramp can be guided obliquely upward during collision, but the space for other components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tilted surface is provided locally at the actuator housing rather than requiring a large overall space allocation. This localized structural feature provides the necessary collision guidance function while minimizing the impact on total available space under the floor
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes: a floor where an occupant is located during a ride in the vehicle; a high voltage unit located below the floor; a ramp configured to move between an in-use position and a storage position; and an actuator that moves the ramp between the in-use position and the storage position. The ramp includes a distal end that contacts the ground when the ramp is in the in-use position, and a base end located on the opposite side of the ramp from the distal end. When the ramp is in the storage position, the base end of the ramp is adjacent to the actuator in a horizontal direction. A tilted surface tilted upward from the base end of the ramp toward the actuator is located between the base end of the ramp and the actuator.