Vehicle body structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydrogen electric vehicle-based LCVs face challenges in mounting large-capacity hydrogen tanks and high-power fuel cell stacks due to limited space, and are prone to damage in collisions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle body structure that includes a center floor assembly with side sills, fuel cell stack mounting units, and hydrogen tank mounting units, supported by stack and tank mount modules, allowing for secure placement of these components without increasing vehicle height, and incorporating support trays and strap band clampers for enhanced stability and collision resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If large-capacity hydrogen tanks and high-power fuel cell stacks are mounted in the vehicle body, then the energy storage and power output are improved, but the vehicle body space is insufficient and collision damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen tank capacityVSAvoidvehicle body space

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by placing the fuel cell stack and hydrogen tanks in the lower portion of the vehicle body, specifically in the floor assembly area. This dimensional approach allows mounting large-capacity components without increasing the vehicle's horizontal footprint, effectively resolving the space constraint while accommodating high-capacity energy storage systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle body is divided into functional zones with the center floor assembly serving as a dedicated mounting platform for fuel cell stacks and hydrogen tanks. This segmentation isolates these components in a specific structural region, optimizing space utilization and allowing independent design of the mounting structure to accommodate large-capacity components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If large-capacity hydrogen tanks and high-power fuel cell stacks are mounted in the vehicle body, then the energy storage and power output are improved, but the mount strength and collision resistance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel cell stack powerVSAvoidmount strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel cell stack mounting unit and hydrogen tank mounting unit are integrated into a unified center floor assembly structure. This merged structure combines the mounting functions for both high-power fuel cell stacks and large-capacity hydrogen tanks, allowing them to share the structural strength of the floor assembly and benefiting from the overall structural reinforcement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The center floor assembly is designed with inherent structural strength and rigidity to provide collision protection to the mounted fuel cell stacks and hydrogen tanks. The structure acts as a protective barrier, absorbing and distributing collision forces before they reach the sensitive components, thereby enhancing mount strength and collision resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle body structure is modified to accommodate large components, then the component mounting capability is improved, but the vehicle height increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent mounting capabilityVSAvoidvehicle height

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20250381857A1Vehicle body structure

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An embodiment vehicle body includes a center floor assembly, a side sill disposed along a front-rear direction of the vehicle body on both sides of the center floor assembly in a vehicle width direction and connected to a front body assembly, a fuel cell stack mounting apparatus disposed at a front portion of the center floor assembly and configured to position fuel cell stacks at a lower portion of the center floor assembly, and a hydrogen tank mounting apparatus disposed at a rear of the center floor assembly and configured to position hydrogen tanks at the lower portion of the center floor assembly.