Engine Cradle Deflector Impact Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In unibody vehicle constructions, impact loads are transferred directly into the engine cradle, which can lead to inefficient load management and potential damage, as the entire structure acts as a load-carrying member, reacting to all vehicle loads.
Innovation Solution
The engine cradle incorporates left and right side members with rear and front cross members and deflector devices featuring impact receiving members with overlapping sheet metal shells, designed to project outwardly and receive impact loads, redirecting them laterally onto the cradle, thereby avoiding transfer to the vehicle wheels and other structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If impact loads are transferred directly into the unibody construction, then the structural integrity of the vehicle body is maintained, but the engine cradle and other components are subjected to excessive loads that can cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a load management system with load management members positioned between the impact source and the engine cradle. These members act as intermediaries to intercept and redirect impact loads, preventing them from being transferred directly into the engine cradle and other protected components, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining structural integrity and protecting components from excessive loads
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the load path by introducing separate load management members that handle impact loads independently from the main unibody structure. This segmentation allows the impact loads to be managed separately through designated paths, preventing them from affecting the engine cradle while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the unibody construction
2Stability of the object's composition
If the entire unibody structure acts as a load-carrying member, then vehicle stability is maintained, but impact loads are inefficiently distributed causing potential damage to specific components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing load management members at specific locations where impact loads are most likely to occur. These members are strategically positioned to intercept loads before they reach critical components, creating localized load management zones that improve overall load management efficiency while maintaining vehicle stability through the distributed unibody structure
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the engine cradle is designed to receive all impact loads, then component protection is achieved, but the cradle structure becomes overly complex and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the impact load reception function from the engine cradle by introducing separate load management members. These members are specifically designed to intercept and redirect impact loads away from the cradle, allowing the cradle to maintain a simpler, lighter structure while still achieving component protection through the distributed load management system
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 design effectively manages impact loads by redirecting them into the engine cradle, reducing the risk of damage to vehicle wheels and other structures, and enhancing the vehicle's stability during collisions.
Implementation Method 1
a top wall welded to a top wall of the cradle
Implementation Method 2
a bottom wall welded to the bottom wall of the cradle
Data Source
AI summary
A cradle for mounting an engine in a vehicle has left and right side members, and a rear cross member and front cross member extending between the left and right side members. The cradle has left and right front body mounts. Left and right deflector devices are mounted respectively on the cradle adjacent the left and right body mounts and forwardly of the vehicle wheels. Each of the left and right deflector devices including an impact receiving member that projects outwardly and rearwardly from the cradle to receive an impact load offset outboard from the body mounts. Each impact receiving member has an upper and lower sheet metal shell providing a top wall welded to a top wall of the cradle and a bottom wall welded to the bottom wall of the cradle, and a front impact receiving wall extending vertically between the top wall and the bottom wall.