Bow-Shaped Front Crossbar Structure for Small Overlap Collisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current front vehicle body structures fail to effectively respond to small overlap collisions, particularly in electric vehicles with a frunk, leading to inadequate passenger protection and excessive damage, and are prone to weight increases that compromise efficiency and safety.
Innovation Solution
A front vehicle body reinforcing structure featuring a bow-shaped crossbar and support brackets with closed cross-sectional shapes, strategically positioned to distribute load and enhance collision response, including a crash box, bumper beam, and fender apron upper member, which supports the frunk and induces vehicle avoidance behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the outer portion of the vehicle body is excessively reinforced to protect against overlap collision, then collision response performance is improved, but vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively reinforcing only the critical outer portion (front fender apron member) where overlap collision impact occurs, rather than uniformly reinforcing the entire vehicle body. This targeted reinforcement improves collision response performance while minimizing overall weight increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by integrating a reinforcing member made of high-strength material into the front fender apron member structure. This allows the outer portion to achieve enhanced collision resistance with reduced weight compared to using conventional materials throughout the entire body structure.
2Strength
If the front fender apron member is extended and connected to the front side member, then structural rigidity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reinforcing member with the front fender apron member into an integrated structure. This combination enhances structural rigidity by creating a continuous load path while avoiding the complexity of separate connecting components and assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The extended front fender apron member serves multiple functions: it acts as both the original fender apron structure and the reinforcing element simultaneously. This multi-functionality improves structural rigidity without adding separate reinforcing components that would increase device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If a straight crossbar is used to connect front side members, then manufacturing is simplified, but collision response performance in overlap collision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the crossbar, changing it from a straight line to an arc-shaped structure. This curved geometry improves collision response performance by better distributing impact forces during overlap collisions, while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes for forming curved metal sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the crossbar from linear (straight) to curved (arced). This parameter change optimizes the structural performance for overlap collision scenarios by creating a more effective load distribution path, while the curvature can be achieved through standard forming processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A front vehicle body reinforcing structure is provided to improve front collision response performance of a vehicle. The front vehicle body reinforcing structure includes a front side member that is disposed on each of left and right sides of a front vehicle body to extend in a front-rear direction of a vehicle body. A crossbar is installed to connect between the front side members on the left and right sides and has a form bent in a bow shape. Additionally, support brackets are installed to connect between left and right side portions of the crossbar and the front side members to support the crossbar at each of the front side members.