Front Vehicle-Body Structure for Small Overlap Load Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front vehicle-body structures struggle to effectively generate a lateral force in small overlap collisions, particularly in vehicles with a large distance between the front side frame and the power unit, such as those with a longitudinal engine or electric automobiles, leading to inefficient load transmission and deformation reduction.
Innovation Solution
A front vehicle-body structure featuring a suspension subframe with high-rigidity portions at the connecting points between side frames and a cross member, and a front beam member with protrusion portions that contact these high-rigidity areas during collisions, transmitting loads effectively to generate lateral forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between the front side frame and the power unit is increased (as in vehicles with longitudinal engines or electric automobiles), then the vehicle layout flexibility is improved, but the load transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a front beam member as an intermediary component between the side frames and the power unit. This beam member extends in the vehicle width direction and transmits collision loads from the side frames to the power unit, effectively bridging the gap created by increased distance and maintaining load transmission efficiency despite improved layout flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new structural dimension by introducing the front beam member that extends in the vehicle width direction, perpendicular to the traditional load transmission path. This creates a two-dimensional load transmission network that efficiently transfers forces across the vehicle front structure to the power unit
2Reliability
If the rigidity of the side frame connecting portion is increased to improve load transmission, then the load transmission efficiency is improved, but the deformation control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a high-rigidity portion specifically at the connecting portion between the side frame and the cross member, while other portions of the side frame maintain their original rigidity. This localized reinforcement ensures efficient load transmission at the critical connection point without causing excessive deformation in the overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The side frame is segmented into different rigidity zones: a high-rigidity portion at the connecting portion for effective load transmission, and lower-rigidity portions in other areas that can deform to absorb energy and control deformation patterns during collision
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A front vehicle-body structure for a vehicle (1) includes: side frames (8) of a suspension subframe; a cross member (10) connecting front end portions of the side frames in the vehicle width direction; a front beam member (4); and a connecting member (6) connecting a front end portion of each side frame to the front beam member, wherein, at a connecting portion (8b) between the front end portion of the side frame and the cross member, a high-rigidity portion (8e) having a higher rigidity than other portions of the side frame is formed, and the front beam member has a side end portion (4b) extending on a vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to a connecting position with the connecting member, and a protrusion portion (44) protruding from the side end portion toward a vehicle rear side, the protrusion portion (44) being configured to come into contact with the high-rigidity portion (8e) from the vehicle-width-direction outer side when a collision load from a vehicle front side is input to the side end portion.