Vehicle Door Crash Bolt Structure for Side-Impact Force Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety devices for vehicles do not adequately address the need for increased stability and user convenience during side collisions, as they fail to effectively distribute collision forces and can cause injury or damage due to exposed fastening elements.
Innovation Solution
A safety device featuring a crash bolt that is securely fastened to the vehicle body and extends along the entire door length, with a crash element that cooperates with a recess, and is concealed by trim parts to prevent penetration into the vehicle interior and protect against external damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a crash bolt is used to prevent door penetration during side collision, then safety is improved, but the crash bolt may cause injury or damage to users due to being exposed
Solution Approach 1:
A trim part is introduced as an intermediary element that covers the crash bolt during normal operation. The trim part is designed to be penetrable by the crash bolt during side collision, allowing the crash bolt to pass through and engage the recess while the trim part protects users from direct contact with the exposed crash bolt, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and user protection
Solution Approach 2:
The trim part is pre-installed to cover the crash bolt before any collision occurs. This preliminary protective measure ensures that during normal vehicle operation, users cannot be injured by the exposed crash bolt, while still allowing the safety function to activate when needed
2Stability of the object's composition
If a crash bolt engages with a recess to prevent door penetration, then door stability is improved, but the exposed crash bolt and recess may allow small items or dirt to enter, causing corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The trim part serves as a protective intermediary that covers the recess opening during normal operation, preventing small items and dirt from entering the recess while maintaining door stability through the crash bolt-recess engagement mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The recess is pre-designed with a covered opening that is normally sealed by the trim part, preventing corrosion before it can occur, while still allowing the crash bolt to engage when needed during side collision
3Force
If the crash bolt is securely mounted on the vehicle body to conduct collision forces, then force transmission is improved, but the exposed crash bolt may catch on clothing when users are getting in or out
Solution Approach 1:
The trim part acts as a mediator that conceals the crash bolt from users during normal operation, preventing clothing from catching on the exposed crash bolt while allowing the crash bolt to maintain its secure mounting and force transmission capability during side collision
4Reliability
If the recess is left open to allow crash bolt engagement, then safety function is improved, but the recess is vulnerable to external influences and water retention
Solution Approach 1:
The trim part serves as a protective intermediary that seals the recess opening during normal operation, preventing water retention and corrosion, while the recess remains accessible to the crash bolt during side collision to maintain the safety function
Data Source
AI summary
A safety device for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, including a door that is movably situated at a body of the vehicle, a crash bolt that protrudes laterally from the body at a retaining section, in the direction of the door, and a recess that is provided at the door and designed to partly accommodate the crash bolt. It is provided that the crash bolt is fastened to the body, and a crash element that extends at least essentially over the length of the door is situated at the door, the crash element being designed to be supported, at a first end thereof having the recess, on the retaining section of the body in the event of a side collision.