Center Frame HVAC Layout for Stiff Vehicle Body Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle body structures face challenges in balancing vehicle body stiffness with flexibility of layout for components and devices within the vehicle cabin.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-body structure that includes a center frame positioned higher than the floor panel, with an air-conditioning device positioned above the center frame and under-feet ducts extending downward from the frame's outer sides, allowing for improved layout flexibility and increased stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If reinforcement members are provided in the vehicle cabin to increase vehicle body stiffness, then vehicle body stiffness is improved, but flexibility of layout for components and devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air-conditioning device is segmented into multiple functional parts: the air conditioner main body is positioned in the engine compartment, while the air distribution portion is separately positioned in the vehicle cabin above the center frame. This segmentation allows the reinforcement member (center frame) to be placed in the vehicle cabin without interfering with the layout of other components, as the air-conditioning system's critical components are distributed to different locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The air distribution portion is positioned in the vertical dimension above the center frame, rather than in the horizontal plane within the vehicle cabin. This vertical placement utilizes the space above the reinforcement member, allowing the center frame to provide structural support while the air distribution portion maintains its function without competing for horizontal space with other components.
2Volume of moving object
If the air distribution portion is positioned below the center frame, then space utilization in the vehicle cabin is improved, but the center frame's structural effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the air distribution portion in the horizontal space below the center frame, it is positioned in the vertical dimension above the center frame. This dimensional change allows both the center frame to maintain its structural integrity and the air distribution portion to be effectively positioned without spatial conflict.
3Ease of manufacture
If the under-feet duct is arranged in the space below the center frame, then duct routing is simplified, but layout flexibility for other components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The under-feet duct is segmented into multiple sections: a first under-feet duct portion positioned in the engine compartment and a second under-feet duct portion positioned in the vehicle cabin. This segmentation allows the duct to be routed through different spatial zones, avoiding conflict with the center frame and other components while maintaining functional connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The under-feet duct routing utilizes both the engine compartment space and the vehicle cabin space, transitioning between these vertical and spatial zones. This multi-zone routing approach allows the duct to achieve its routing objective without being constrained to a single location that would limit component placement flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle-body structure may include a floor panel, a center frame disposed to be higher than and away from the floor panel, and an air-conditioning device. The air-conditioning device may include an air distribution portion that is positioned higher than a front portion of the center frame and distributes generated air-conditioned air to each portion of an occupant space, and under-feet ducts that guide air-conditioned air to a lower side. The under-feet ducts each may extend downward from the upper side of the center frame through a vehicle-width-direction outer side of the center frame.