Motor Vehicle Chassis Flat Floor Heat Shield Exhaust Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional motor vehicle chassis designs with a tunnel for the exhaust line create a protrusion that prevents the vehicle from being fully loaded and results in overheating of underbody elements due to hot air from the engine compartment in flat floor configurations.

Innovation Solution

A flat vehicle floor with a central heat screen along the longitudinal axis and an apron screen that stiffens and protects the central screen, along with a rear heat shield, to facilitate hot air evacuation and prevent overheating, while ensuring thermal and sound performance through a non-linear junction zone and aerodynamic design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a tunnel is defined in the floor for exhaust line passage, then the exhaust line can be routed along the vehicle, but a protrusion is created that prevents complete filling of the vehicle cargo space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecargo space volumeVSAvoidfloor structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust line is extracted from the traditional floor tunnel and repositioned to pass through the heat shield structure itself. The heat shield is configured with a passage that guides the exhaust line from the engine compartment through the underbody to the rear, eliminating the need for a floor tunnel and restoring full cargo space volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The exhaust line routing is moved from the vertical dimension (through the floor tunnel) to the horizontal dimension (through the heat shield passage along the underbody). This dimensional shift allows the exhaust system to coexist with a flat floor design, maximizing cargo space while maintaining exhaust functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If the floor is made substantially flat to optimize free space, then cargo loading is facilitated, but hot air from the engine compartment abnormally heats underbody elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefree space volumeVSAvoidunderbody element temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The heat shield is segmented into multiple functional zones: a first portion that directs hot air away from the underbody, a second portion that provides structural support, and an integrated passage that channels exhaust gases. This segmentation allows the heat shield to simultaneously protect underbody elements and facilitate exhaust evacuation without requiring a tunnel in the floor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heat shield acts as an intermediary structure between the engine compartment and the underbody elements. It provides thermal protection by blocking direct heat transfer to the underbody while simultaneously serving as a conduit for exhaust gas evacuation, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of thermal management and exhaust routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Temperature

If heat shields are added to evacuate hot air, then thermal performance improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal performanceVSAvoidchassis assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat shield is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides thermal protection, structural support, and exhaust gas evacuation. By integrating these three functions into a single component rather than using separate parts for each function, the thermal performance is improved without a proportional increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The functions of thermal shielding, structural bracing, and exhaust routing are merged into a single integrated heat shield assembly. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifies the overall chassis architecture, and improves thermal management efficiency through coordinated design of all three functions within one structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively evacuates hot air from the engine compartment, prevents overheating of underbody elements, and improves thermal and sound performance by eliminating space between screens and ensuring bearing contact, allowing for complete folding of passenger seats and optimized interior space.

Implementation Method 1

the hot air from the engine compartment came to abnormally heat the elements under the body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHot air flow: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The apron screen thus makes it possible to stiffen the central screen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStructural stiffening:

Implementation Method 3

said apron screen has a curved portion oriented so as to be able to break a wave generated during a ford

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWave breaking:

Implementation Method 4

improve the thermal performance of the vehicle by eliminating the space between the various screens to avoid heating the interior of the passenger compartment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 5

improves the sound performance of the vehicle by preventing the screens from vibrating during use of the vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3113982B1Motor vehicle chassis assembly
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP3113982B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3113982B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention mainly relates to a motor vehicle chassis assembly comprising: a vehicle floor (2) intended to substantially extend the length of the vehicle along a longitudinal axis (X); and an exhaust line (3) for gases burnt during combustion in a heat engine. Said chassis assembly is characterized in that said floor (2) is substantially flat. Said chassis assembly (1) comprises at least one central screen (5), referred to as a heat screen, which extends along said longitudinal axis (X) of the vehicle and defines a passage for said exhaust line of said vehicle (3).