Vehicle Floor Tunnel Reinforcement for Front-Side Collision
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle floor structure struggles to adequately suppress deformation of the floor tunnel when a load is applied from the front side, particularly due to the placement of the power unit generating driving force, such as an internal combustion engine or drive motor, which can cause significant stress and deformation during collisions.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle floor structure incorporates a reinforcement member fixed to the outer surface of the tunnel reinforcement and side wall, with the dash lower cross member connecting to the side wall, allowing the load to be distributed and absorbed by the reinforcement member, thereby reducing deformation and preventing separation of the tunnel reinforcement from the side wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If tunnel reinforcements are fixed to the corner of the floor tunnel, then the floor tunnel is reinforced, but deformation of the floor tunnel cannot be sufficiently suppressed when a load acts from the vehicle front side
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing reinforcement members at specific locations where stress concentrates during front-side collisions. The reinforcement member is positioned on the side wall at a height corresponding to the lower end of the tunnel reinforcement, creating localized reinforcement exactly where needed to prevent deformation under front-side loads, rather than uniformly reinforcing the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the limitation of tunnel reinforcements by adding reinforcement members in a different spatial dimension - placing them on the side walls at specific heights rather than only at the corners. This dimensional addition creates a more comprehensive reinforcement system that effectively resists front-side collision forces.
2Power
If the power unit is disposed at a frontward position, then driving force is generated, but a great load acts on the floor tunnel when the power unit moves rearward during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning reinforcement members on the side walls before collision occurs. These reinforcement members are strategically placed at heights corresponding to the lower ends of tunnel reinforcements, preparing the floor tunnel structure to withstand the anticipated great loads from front-side collisions that would cause the power unit to move rearward.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the collision load issue by applying local quality through targeted reinforcement placement. The reinforcement members are positioned specifically on the side walls at critical heights where stress concentrates during front-side collisions, creating localized strength exactly where the collision forces would affect the power unit's rearward movement.
3Strength
If a reinforcement member is placed on the outer surface of the tunnel reinforcement, then the reinforcement effect is enhanced, but the reinforcement member may separate from the side wall under load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the tunnel reinforcement and reinforcement member into an integrated reinforcement system. The reinforcement member is positioned to overlap with the lower end of the tunnel reinforcement, creating a merged reinforcement structure that works together to prevent both corner deformation and side wall separation under collision loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent effectively creates a composite reinforcement structure by layering the reinforcement member on the outer surface of the tunnel reinforcement. This composite arrangement combines multiple reinforcement elements to achieve enhanced strength and stability, preventing separation under load while maintaining the reinforcement effect.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle floor structure includes: a floor tunnel extending in a vehicle-longitudinal direction at a center in a vehicle-width direction of a vehicle; and a floor pan fixed outward of the floor tunnel in the vehicle-width direction. The floor tunnel includes a top wall having a plate-like shape, a side wall extending downward from an edge of the top wall in the vehicle-width direction toward the floor pan, a tunnel reinforcement covering a corner ranging from the edge to an upper edge of the side wall in the vehicle-upward direction, and a reinforcement member provided on the side wall. A part of the reinforcement member is placed on an outer surface of the tunnel reinforcement, and is fixed to the outer surface of the tunnel reinforcement at a position adjacent to a front end of the floor tunnel.