Electrical Device Mounting with Deformable Front Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional mounting structures for electrical devices in vehicles, a collision load from the vehicle front side during a collision can cause the electrical device to displace towards the vehicle rear side, potentially leading to excessive collision loads being input to adjacent devices.
Innovation Solution
A mounting structure that includes a supporting member with a body portion and a front extension portion. The front extension portion extends further than the electrical device towards the vehicle front side and has a lower rigidity in the vehicle front-rear direction compared to the body portion, which is fixed to the vehicle body floor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid supporting structure is used to fix the electrical device, then the electrical device is securely fixed, but the displacement suppression during collision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is divided into two functional segments: a body portion for secure fixing and a front extension portion for collision load absorption. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specialized function - the body portion provides reliable fixation while the front extension portion suppresses harmful collision loads through its lower rigidity and deformation capability
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the supporting member are given different rigidity properties. The body portion has high rigidity for secure fixing, while the front extension portion has deliberately reduced rigidity (through thinner cross-section or different material properties) to allow controlled deformation during collision, thereby absorbing impact energy and preventing excessive load transmission to the electrical device
2Strength
If the supporting member has high rigidity throughout, then the electrical device is firmly supported, but the collision load is transmitted to adjacent devices
Solution Approach 1:
The front extension portion acts as an intermediary element between the collision load and the electrical device. It absorbs and dissipates collision energy through controlled deformation, serving as a buffer that prevents excessive forces from being transmitted to both the electrical device and adjacent devices, thereby eliminating the need for overly rigid supporting structures
3Device complexity
If the front extension portion has the same rigidity as the body portion, then the structure is simple, but the displacement suppression effect is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The rigidity parameter of the supporting member is varied along its length. The front extension portion has reduced rigidity compared to the body portion, achieved through changes in cross-sectional dimensions, wall thickness, or material properties. This parameter variation enables the front extension to deform under collision loads while maintaining structural integrity, providing effective displacement suppression without excessive complexity
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 configuration effectively suppresses the displacement of the electrical device towards the vehicle rear side during a vehicle front collision by absorbing part of the collision load through deformation of the front extension portion, thereby reducing the load transmitted to the body portion and adjacent devices.
Implementation Method 1
a rigidity of the front extension portion in a vehicle front-rear direction is lower than a rigidity of the body portion in the vehicle front-rear direction
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting structure for an electrical device includes a vehicle electrical device and a supporting member which supports the electrical device. The supporting member includes: a body portion to which the electrical device is supported and fixed; and a front extension portion extending from the body portion toward a vehicle front side further than an end portion of the electrical device at a vehicle front side. The body portion and an end portion of the front extension portion at the vehicle front side are fixed to the vehicle body floor, and a rigidity of the front extension portion in a vehicle front-rear direction is lower than a rigidity of the body portion in the vehicle front-rear direction.