Curved Vehicle Pillar Structure for Blind-Spot Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle pillar structures compromise visibility and cabin space, and lack sufficient reinforcement to withstand collisions, leading to potential deformation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle pillar structure with a curved design incorporating a transparent window member and integrated reinforcement members to enhance visibility and cabin space, while efficiently distributing and absorbing collision loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the vehicle pillar is designed with a straight shape inclined toward the rear, then the structural simplicity and ease of manufacture are improved, but the vehicle cabin space is reduced and the sense of openness is diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle pillar is designed with a curved shape in side view, where the curved portion is curved from the upper end of the straight portion and extends in the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle. This curvature increases the vehicle cabin space compared to a straight pillar design while maintaining structural integrity.
2Device complexity
If the vehicle pillar is designed with a straight shape inclined toward the rear, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the visibility of the occupant is compromised due to increased blind spots
Solution Approach 1:
The curved shape of the vehicle pillar, with the curved portion extending in the front-and-rear direction, reduces blind spots for occupants while maintaining a relatively simple structural configuration. The curvature allows for better visibility through the transparent window member.
3Volume of moving object
If the vehicle pillar has a curved shape with a curved portion, then the vehicle cabin space is increased, but the stress concentration during collision increases at the boundary between straight and curved portions
Solution Approach 1:
A reinforcement member is provided at the boundary between the straight portion and the curved portion of the vehicle pillar. This reinforcement member is coupled to both the straight portion and the curved portion, preemptively strengthening the area where stress concentration is expected during collision to prevent deformation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the transparent window member is interposed between the first and second pillars, then the visibility of the occupant is improved, but the structural strength and rigidity of the pillar structure is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle pillar is divided into a first pillar and a second pillar arranged away from each other in the front-and-rear direction, with a transparent window member interposed between them. This segmentation allows for visibility improvement while maintaining structural strength through the distributed pillar configuration and reinforcement members.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle pillar structure includes a vehicle pillar (30) and a transparent window member (60). The vehicle pillar (30) includes a first pillar (32) extending along an outer end of a windshield glass (22) in a width direction of a vehicle (10), and a second pillar (40) disposed away from the first pillar (32) by a predetermined distance in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle (10). An outside of the vehicle (10) is viewable through the transparent window member (60). The transparent window member (60) is interposed between the first pillar (32) and the second pillar (40), and covers an opening defined by the first pillar (32) and the second pillar (40). The vehicle pillar (30) has a curved shape defined by a straight portion (30A) extending in a vertical direction of the vehicle (10) in side view, and a curved portion (30B) curved from an upper end of the straight portion (30A) and extending in the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle (10).