Vehicle Floor Crossmember Deformation Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle floor structures are inadequate in absorbing the energy of side impacts at severe angles, such as 75°, leading to potential injury and inefficiency in energy dispersion during side impact tests.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle floor structure incorporates profiled walls with notches, slots, undulations, and ribs that promote compressive deformation, specifically designed to absorb energy by extending transversely along the profile, with slots and rows of slots strategically located to enhance compression and reduce stiffness, and a seat podium attached to these sections for improved energy absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional cross member structure is used, then the floor structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the energy absorption capacity during side impact is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a deformation zone with specific local structural characteristics (reduced thickness, notches, slots) in the cross member. This localized modification allows the structure to have different properties in different regions: the deformation zone absorbs energy through controlled collapse, while the rest of the structure maintains its original strength and simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the cross member in the deformation zone, specifically reducing the thickness of the wall and adding geometric features like notches and slots. These parameter changes enable the structure to undergo controlled compressive deformation during side impact, transforming the rigid structure into one that can absorb energy through deformation.
2Strength
If the cross member is raised to channel energy absorption, then energy absorption is improved, but seat elevation and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of raising the entire cross member structure, the patent applies local quality by creating a deformation zone only in specific regions of the cross member. This localized approach allows energy absorption to occur at the deformation zone level without requiring overall structural elevation, thereby maintaining original seat heights and floor space.
3Strength
If the profiled wall is made more rigid to maintain structural integrity, then structural strength is improved, but compressive deformation capability during side impact is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality - the profiled wall maintains its rigid structure in most regions to ensure structural integrity, while specific zones (deformation zones with notches and slots) are locally modified to enable compressive deformation. This creates a structure that is both strong and deformable in the required locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the profiled wall into different functional zones: rigid sections that maintain structural integrity and deformation zones with notches and slots that enable controlled compression. This segmentation allows the structure to simultaneously possess both rigidity and deformability in different regions.
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 significantly enhances the vehicle's ability to absorb side impact energy, reducing the risk of injury by effectively channeling and dispersing the impact force, improving passenger safety during severe side impacts.
Implementation Method 1
a portion with means promoting the compressive deformation of said section in the event of side impact
Implementation Method 2
absorb the energy of such a side impact
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention concerns a floor (8) of a motor vehicle (2) comprising: a central tunnel (10); at least one sill (12) extending along and at a distance from the central tunnel (12); a wall (14) extending transversely from the central tunnel (10) to the sill (12); and one or more profiled sections (16) extending transversely on the wall (14) between the tunnel (10) and the sill (12); the or at least one of the profiled sections (16) comprises a profiled wall (18) extending along the length (24) of the profiled section (16), said wall (18) comprising, at the end of same on the sill side, a portion (20) with means (22) promoting the compressive deformation of said profiled section (16) in case of a side impact. The invention also concerns a vehicle comprising such a floor (8).