EV Side Sill Load-Transmitting Structure for Side Collision Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-body structures face challenges in simultaneously achieving weight reduction and enhanced collision safety, particularly in absorbing side collision loads while protecting battery cells, as longer rocker dimensions for energy absorption lead to weight increase and reduced cabin space.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-body structure featuring a floor-side cross member and hollow-shaped side sills with internal load-transmitting members, including vertical walls and ribs, that disperse and transmit collision loads to the floor-side cross member and battery case, reducing the need for large rockers and enhancing load absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dimension of the rocker in the vehicle width direction is made longer to absorb sufficiently large quantity of collision energy, then the collision safety is improved, but the weight of the vehicle body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a conventional horizontal rocker structure to a vertical side load-transmitting member extending in the vehicle height direction. This dimensional change allows the load-transmitting member to have a longer effective dimension for energy absorption without increasing the vehicle width, thereby improving collision safety without adding vehicle body weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The side load-transmitting member is nested inside the side sill, forming a hierarchical structure where the load-transmitting member is positioned within the hollow space of the side sill. This nesting arrangement allows the load-transmitting member to extend vertically without increasing the overall vehicle width, enabling effective collision energy absorption while maintaining compact vehicle dimensions and avoiding weight increase.
2Reliability
If the dimension of the rocker in the vehicle width direction is made longer to absorb sufficiently large quantity of collision energy, then the collision energy absorption is improved, but the cabin space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the orientation of the load-transmitting member from horizontal (vehicle width direction) to vertical (vehicle height direction). This allows the member to extend downward to overlap the battery case, providing sufficient length for collision energy absorption without encroaching on the horizontal cabin space, thus resolving the contradiction between energy absorption capability and cabin volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The side load-transmitting member is nested within the side sill structure, utilizing the vertical space inside the side sill. This nested configuration allows the load-transmitting member to achieve the necessary length for effective collision energy absorption by extending vertically downward to overlap the battery case, without increasing the vehicle width that would reduce cabin space.
3Reliability
If the rocker is made with larger quantity of material to absorb collision energy, then the collision safety is improved, but the weight of the vehicle body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention reorients the load-transmitting member vertically, extending in the vehicle height direction to overlap the battery case. This vertical orientation allows the member to achieve sufficient structural mass and length for effective collision energy absorption without increasing the horizontal dimensions that would add vehicle body weight, thereby improving collision safety while maintaining weight efficiency.
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 configuration effectively absorbs collision loads, protects the battery case, and allows for weight reduction by distributing loads efficiently without increasing vehicle width, thereby improving collision safety and reducing weight.
Implementation Method 1
a hollow-shaped side load-transmitting member provided inside the side sill, extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and transmitting a load applied to a vehicle-inward side from a vehicle-outward side toward the vehicle-inward side
Implementation Method 2
the side load-transmitting member comprises a first vertical wall portion provided to extend in a vertical direction and overlap the floor-side cross member in the vehicle side view and a second vertical wall portion provided to extend in the vertical direction and overlap the battery case in the vehicle side view
Data Source
AI summary
A side load-transmitting member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and transmitting a load applied to a vehicle-inward side from a vehicle-outward side toward the vehicle-inward side is provided inside a side sill. A lower portion of the side sill is provided to overlap a battery case in a vehicle side view. The side load-transmitting member comprises a first vertical wall portion provided to overlap a floor-side cross member in the vehicle side view and a second vertical wall portion provided to overlap the battery case in the vehicle side view.