Doorless Vehicle Frame with Transverse Force Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle designs face challenges in achieving a lightweight and safe structure, particularly for electric vehicles, as they often compromise on weight reduction due to increased safety and comfort requirements, leading to inadequate crash safety and limited cruising ranges.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle frame design featuring a safety cell with a transverse element that diverts side impact forces and a adjustable seat that transitions between driving and access positions, allowing for a lighter undercarriage and improved battery protection, while maintaining crash safety and ergonomic access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If vehicle doors are provided at the side of an occupant to enable entry and exit, then ease of operation is improved, but crash safety deteriorates because an extremely rigid door frame is required which substantially increases weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the door from the vehicle structure entirely, extracting the function of entry and exit from the door while eliminating the door's harmful effect of requiring a heavy rigid frame for crash safety. The doorless design allows the side sill to serve both structural and access functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The side sill is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for crash safety, defines the vehicle opening for entry and exit, and eliminates the need for separate door components. This multi-functionality reduces overall vehicle weight while maintaining both safety and accessibility.
2Reliability
If a massive door frame is provided to divert side impact forces, then crash safety is improved, but device complexity and weight increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the door frame structure with the side sill into a single integrated component. The side sill is designed to directly receive and divert side impact forces without requiring a separate door frame, simplifying the structure while maintaining crash safety through optimized force distribution paths.
3Power
If existing vehicles are equipped with batteries and electric motors to achieve electric drive, then power output is improved, but weight increases due to required batteries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hybrid powertrain system that dynamically switches between electric motor operation and internal combustion engine operation. This dynamic configuration allows the vehicle to achieve high power output when needed while operating in electric-only mode for lower power demands, effectively managing the weight penalty of carrying batteries.
Data Source
AI summary
The description relates to a vehicle frame (1) which forms a safety cell having at least one vehicle seat (5), wherein the vehicle frame (1) comprises at least a floor section (10) and a side sill (20), and wherein at least one transverse element (30) for absorbing transverse forces is provided which is connected to at least the side sill (20) and extends on both sides of the at least one vehicle seat (5), in particular below the vehicle seat, and is arranged above the floor section (10). The description also relates to a vehicle seat (110) which can be adjusted at least between a driving position and an access position, wherein a seat surface (113) of the vehicle seat is substantially horizontal in the access position and is inclined to the rear with respect to the access position in the driving position.