Convertible Vehicle Body Reinforcement for Rear Collision Load Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Convertible vehicles experience significant deformation in rear collisions due to lack of load dispersion, which is exacerbated by the need for a large side sill cross section to absorb loads, leading to increased vehicle weight.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body structure featuring a reinforcement extending from the rear side member to the center pillar, including a gusset, intermediate connecting member, and pillar-side member, which creates a serial load transmission path to disperse loads and reduce deformation without increasing the side sill's cross section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the side sill cross section is enlarged to prevent vehicle body deformation in rear collision, then the deformation resistance is improved, but the vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load transmission path is segmented into multiple routes: one through the side sill and another through the reinforcement member connecting the rear side member to the center pillar. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across different structural components, enabling the side sill to have a smaller cross section while maintaining deformation resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement member acts as an intermediary load transmission element between the rear side member and the center pillar. It provides an additional load path that mediates the force distribution, reducing the burden on the side sill and allowing for weight reduction while maintaining structural integrity.
2Strength
If the side sill cross section is enlarged to absorb collision loads, then the load absorption capacity is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load absorption function is segmented between the side sill and the reinforcement member. The reinforcement member, being a simpler component with smaller cross section, shares the load absorption responsibility, reducing the manufacturing complexity and cost of the side sill while maintaining overall load absorption capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of changing the cross section parameter of the side sill to increase load absorption capacity, the invention changes the structural configuration by adding a reinforcement member with different geometric parameters. This approach achieves the same functional improvement with lower manufacturing cost.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a reinforcement member is added to create a load transmission path from rear side member to center pillar, then the load dispersion is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a load transmission path, provides structural reinforcement, and contributes to load dispersion. This multi-functionality justifies the added component by delivering multiple benefits from a single structural addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement member is positioned as an intermediary element that connects existing structural components (rear side member and center pillar) without requiring fundamental redesign of the overall vehicle body structure. This intermediary approach achieves load dispersion with minimal increase in structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A reinforcement extending in the front-back direction of a vehicle and connecting a rear side member and a center pillar is provided. The reinforcement includes a gusset, an intermediate connecting member, and a pillar-side member. The gusset is connected to the rear side member, and the front end portion of the gusset is connected to the rear surface of the intermediate connecting member. The front surface of the intermediate connecting member is connected to the rear end portion of the pillar-side member. The pillar-side member is connected to the center pillar.