Front Vehicle Body Structure Heat Pump Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing front vehicle body structures for electric vehicles face interference issues between components like the air heat pump and surrounding structures, limiting the expansion of space in the passenger compartment and compromising the structural rigidity required for torsion, bending, and impact performance.
Innovation Solution
A modified front vehicle body structure with a dash panel separating the passenger compartment, featuring a front shock absorber housing, cowl top outer panel, and cowl upper cross member, along with specific mounting brackets for the air heat pump, which allows for increased rigidity and avoids interference with surrounding structures by repositioning the air heat pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conventional front vehicle body structure is used in electric vehicles, then the structural rigidity for torsion, bending, and impact is maintained, but interference occurs between the air heat pump and surrounding structures like the cowl member
Solution Approach 1:
The air heat pump is repositioned from its conventional location to the front side member area, utilizing previously underutilized spatial dimensions. This dimensional relocation allows the air heat pump to be mounted in a region that does not conflict with the cowl member or other structural components, thereby eliminating interference while preserving the overall vehicle body rigidity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the front vehicle body structure is modified to avoid interference with the air heat pump, then interference is prevented, but the structural rigidity for torsion, bending, and impact may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle body structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the conventional cowl member area maintains its original rigidity-critical configuration, while the front side member area is developed as a separate mounting zone for the air heat pump. This segmentation allows the air heat pump to be installed without modifying the load-bearing structural elements, thus preventing interference while preserving structural rigidity
Solution Approach 2:
The front side member acts as an intermediary structure that accommodates the air heat pump mounting without transmitting structural loads to the cowl member or other critical structural components. This intermediary positioning allows the air heat pump to be supported while maintaining the integrity and rigidity of the primary vehicle body structure
3Reliability
If the conventional vehicle body structure is used, then the structural performance is maintained, but the space expansion in the passenger compartment is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the air heat pump to the front side member area, space in the passenger compartment can be expanded or reconfigured. The front side member zone serves as an alternative spatial dimension for housing HVAC components, thereby freeing up passenger compartment volume while maintaining structural performance through the preserved conventional body structure
Data Source
AI summary
A front vehicle body structure for a vehicle defining a space which is distinguished from a passenger compartment by a dash panel between front side members disposed along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The front vehicle body structure includes: a front shock absorber housing in which a front shock absorber of a front wheel suspension of the vehicle is disposed; a cowl top outer panel connected with lower end portions of front pillars of the vehicle; and a cowl upper cross member disposed below the cowl top outer panel and having a front end portion attached to the front shock absorber housing and a rear end portion attached to the cowl top outer panel.