Cylindrical Vehicle Pillar Structure with Transparent Bridge
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle pillar structures with closed cross-sectional frame members and spot-welded flanges result in wider frame components, narrowing the field of vision for vehicle occupants due to the need for flanges to join plate materials and attach corner window glass.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle pillar structure featuring cylindrical frame components with no seams in their cross-section, where a transparent component bridges the gap between them, eliminating the need for flanges and allowing narrower frame widths, and incorporating planar joining surfaces for the windshield and pillar glass, with a step-shaped portion to direct windshield washing liquid away from the transparent component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If frame members are formed by spot welding two plate materials together via welding flanges, then structural integrity is achieved, but the width of each frame member increases, narrowing the field of vision
Solution Approach 1:
The frame member is formed as a cylindrical tube with a curved cross-section instead of a flat plate structure. This curvature eliminates the need for welding flanges while maintaining structural integrity, thereby reducing the overall width of the frame member and expanding the field of vision.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical frame member integrates the structural support function and the window mounting function into a single component. The corner window glass is directly joined to the cylindrical tube without requiring separate flanges, merging multiple functions into one element and reducing width.
2Ease of manufacture
If flanges are added to join plate materials and attach corner window glass, then assembly capability is improved, but the width of frame components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical shape of the frame member provides sufficient structural strength and mounting surface area without requiring additional flanges. The curved surface allows direct attachment of the corner window glass, eliminating extra components and reducing overall width.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a step-shaped portion is formed at the frame component, then windshield washing liquid flow is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A step-shaped portion is formed locally at a specific position on the cylindrical frame member to create a ledge that directs windshield washing liquid away from the corner window glass. This localized feature provides the necessary fluid control function with minimal impact on the overall simple cylindrical structure.
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
This design reduces the width of the frame components, improves visibility by eliminating flanges, and prevents windshield washing liquid from sticking to the pillar glass, while maintaining structural integrity through the 3-Dimensional Hot Bending and Direct Quench process.
Implementation Method 1
3-Dimensional Hot Bending and Direct Quench process
Implementation Method 2
3-Dimensional Hot Bending and Direct Quench process
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle pillar structure includes: a pair of frame components that extends in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle pillar; and a transparent component that is formed so as to be transparent, and that bridges a gap between the pair of frame components. Each of the pair of frame components is in a cylindrical shape having no seams in a cross-section thereof, and a planar transparent component joining surface to which the transparent component is joined is included as part of an outer peripheral surface of each of the pair of frame components.