Vehicle Cabin Floor Structure for Collision-Protected Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cabin structures face challenges in protecting electronic equipment from collision loads while maintaining an unobstructed boarding space for occupants, as electronic components are often placed outside the cabin, making them susceptible to collision impacts.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle cabin structure incorporates a design where the electronic equipment is supported by floor panels and cross units that absorb collision loads before they reach the equipment, with the seat positioned above the equipment to secure boarding space and the use of a separation unit and pillar units to stabilize the seat and cabin, forming an annular structure to distribute loads and inertial forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If electronic equipment is arranged outside the vehicle cabin, then the boarding space of the occupant is not restricted, but the electronic equipment is likely to be affected by collision loads applied to the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The floor panel acts as an intermediary protective structure between the collision load and the electronic equipment. The floor panel includes a first panel unit and a second panel unit that form a protective barrier, absorbing and distributing collision forces before they reach the electronic equipment while allowing the equipment to be positioned outside the cabin space.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor panel is segmented into multiple units (first panel unit and second panel unit) that are arranged to overlap the electronic equipment from different directions. This segmentation allows the protective structure to effectively distribute and absorb collision loads from various angles, enhancing protection while maintaining the electronic equipment's external positioning.
2Strength
If the vehicle seat is connected to the floor panel, then the seat can be supported, but the boarding space may be reduced by the support structure
Solution Approach 1:
The seat support structure utilizes the vertical dimension by extending support members upward from the floor panel to connect with the seat. This vertical arrangement provides strong support while minimizing horizontal space occupation, thereby maintaining adequate boarding space. The separation unit also extends vertically between the roof panel and floor panel, providing support without compromising horizontal boarding area.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor panel serves multiple functions: it provides the primary support surface for the vehicle seat, acts as a protective barrier against collision loads for the electronic equipment, and serves as a structural element of the cabin. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate support structures that would consume additional boarding space.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the floor panel includes panel units overlapping the electronic equipment, then collision loads are absorbed before reaching the equipment, but the structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor panel structure is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the seating support surface, acts as a collision protective barrier, and serves as the cabin floor structure. By integrating these functions into a single multi-unit panel system, the design avoids the need for separate protective structures, thereby limiting the increase in overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective function against collision loads is merged with the floor panel structure itself rather than being implemented as a separate protective enclosure. The first and second panel units are integrated into the floor panel design, combining the load-bearing floor function with the protective barrier function in a unified structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A structure of a vehicle cabin includes a vehicle seat (98) arranged inside the vehicle cabin and above electronic equipment (188), a first panel unit (118A) composing a part of a floor panel (74, 106), arranged to overlap the electronic equipment (188) when viewed from a vehicle-height direction, and supporting the electronic equipment (188) from a vehicle lower side directly or via a member, and a second panel unit (118B) composing a part of the floor panel (74, 106) and arranged in front of the electronic equipment (188) in the vehicle front-rear direction to overlap the electronic equipment (188) when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction. The floor panel (74, 106) separates the inside of the vehicle cabin from the outside thereof and composes a lower part of the vehicle cabin.