Vehicle Door Crash Element Structure Against Side-Impact Intrusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety devices for vehicle doors do not effectively dissipate high impact forces without deforming the door into the vehicle interior, and they are not aesthetically pleasing or user-friendly.
Innovation Solution
A safety device with a crash bolt attached to the vehicle body and a crash element extending the length of the door, concealed by trim panels, which absorbs impact forces by engaging with a recess on the door, preventing deformation and injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a crash bolt is provided on the body side to interact with a recess on the door side, then the door is restrained against the body in the event of a side impact, but the door may still deform into the vehicle interior under high impact forces
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is divided into two functional components: a crash bolt attached to the vehicle body and a crash element integrated into the door. This segmentation allows the body-side anchor point to remain fixed while the door-side element can deform and engage, distributing the impact forces across separate structural elements and preventing door intrusion into the vehicle interior.
2Force
If the crash bolt is positioned directly on the vehicle body, then impact forces are directed directly into the body, but the crash bolt becomes visible and may cause injury or damage to clothing
Solution Approach 1:
A trim panel is introduced as an intermediary element between the crash bolt and the external environment. The trim panel covers the crash bolt during normal operation, preventing direct contact with users and their clothing. In the event of a side impact, the trim panel is designed to allow the crash bolt to penetrate through it, enabling force transmission while maintaining user safety and aesthetic appearance under normal conditions.
3Reliability
If the recess is made visible on the door, then the crash bolt can engage with it in a side impact, but the recess is exposed to external influences such as dirt and water ingress
Solution Approach 1:
An interior trim panel serves as a protective intermediary that covers the recess on the door side. This interior trim panel prevents dirt, water, and other external contaminants from entering the recess while still allowing the crash bolt to penetrate through it during a side impact. The trim panel is positioned and designed to maintain crash effectiveness while protecting the recess from degradation.
4Strength
If a crash element extending over the entire length of the door is provided, then high forces can be transmitted and dissipated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The crash element is merged with the door structure itself, extending along the door's length and integrating with existing door components. This merging approach allows the crash element to utilize the door's structural framework for force distribution, achieving high force dissipation capability without adding completely separate complex structural elements. The crash element works in conjunction with the door's existing geometry and mounting points.
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
The solution provides enhanced stability and safety by securely transmitting impact forces into the body, reducing the risk of door intrusion and injury, while maintaining a concealed and visually appealing design.
Implementation Method 1
the crash element being designed to brace itself against the retaining section of the vehicle body with a first end having the recess in the event of a side impact
Implementation Method 2
the crash bolt has a cutting tip facing the door for cutting the trim element and/or the interior trim part in a side impact
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
The invention relates to a safety device (17) for a vehicle, more particularly a motor vehicle (1), comprising: - a door (6), which is movably arranged on a body (2) of the vehicle; - a crash bolt (19), which protrudes laterally from the body at a holding portion (18), toward the door (6); and - a hole (23), which is arranged on the door (6) and is designed to partly receive the crash bolt (13). According to the invention, the crash pin (19) is fastened to the body (2), and a crash element (13) extending at least substantially over the length of the door is arranged on the door (6), the crash element being designed to be supported, at a first end (14) thereof having the hole (23), on the holding portion (18) of the body (2) in the event of a side crash.