Diagonal Inclination Members for Vehicle Side Impact Load Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle lower body structures do not effectively address the safety performance improvement against small overlap collisions, lacking specific countermeasures for load transmission and structural reinforcement.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a lower vehicle-body structure featuring right-and-left side sills, hinge pillars, center pillars, a floor panel, and diagonally-extending inclination members forming an X shape, which interconnect the side sills, hinge pillars, and center pillars to enhance load transmission and structural rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lower vehicle-body structures are used, then the structure is simple and lightweight, but the safety performance against small overlap collisions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces diagonally-extending inclination members that create dynamic load transmission paths during collision. These members are configured to actively engage and transmit loads diagonally across the vehicle body during small overlap collisions, transforming the static structure into a dynamically responsive safety system that adapts to collision forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a diagonal dimension to the traditional vertical and horizontal load paths by introducing inclination members that extend diagonally between the side sill, hinge pillar, and center pillar. This diagonal dimension creates efficient load transmission routes that span across the vehicle body, improving safety performance without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
2Reliability
If additional reinforcement members are added to improve collision safety, then the safety performance improves, but the vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inclination members serve multiple functions: they reinforce the connection between the side sill and pillars, provide diagonal load transmission paths during collision, and maintain structural rigidity during normal operation. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address safety concerns without requiring multiple separate reinforcement elements that would increase weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the inclination angle and positioning of the diagonal members to achieve maximum load transmission efficiency. By carefully selecting geometric parameters such as the inclination angle and connection positions, the structure achieves enhanced collision safety with minimal material usage, preventing weight increase while improving performance.
3Reliability
If the load transmission performance is improved, then the safety performance against side collisions improves, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the load transmission functions of multiple structural elements into an integrated system. The inclination member merges the load path between the side sill, hinge pillar, and center pillar into a single continuous diagonal element, simplifying the overall load transmission path while improving safety performance against side collisions.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a pair of diagonally-extending inclination members which are formed in a substantially X shape in a plan view and provided above or below a floor panel. Each of the pair of inclination members is configured to interconnect a connection portion of one of right-and-left side sills and a hinge pillar and a connection portion of the other of the right-and-left side sills and a center pillar. Thereby, a load-transmission efficiency between a front end of the above-described one of the right-and-left side sills and the other of the right-and-left side sills can be improved in the SOL or vehicle side collisions.