Front Frame Suspension Structure With Progressive Crash Collapse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle front frames face a challenge in achieving a balance between minimizing the length of spars for space and style considerations while maintaining progressive shock absorption and reducing deceleration during a front crash.
Innovation Solution
A front frame assembly with a suspension attachment structure that includes a collapsible portion with lower compression stiffness, integrated with absorption elements and an absorber body, allowing for compact design and adjustable deformability to enhance shock absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the length of spars along the forward moving direction is increased to reduce deceleration and improve shock absorption progressiveness, then passenger safety and shock absorption are improved, but space utilization and vehicle style are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension attachment structure incorporates a collapsible portion with different compression stiffness characteristics than the rigid portions. This local variation in mechanical properties allows the structure to deform progressively during front crashes, absorbing energy effectively while maintaining a compact overall length that satisfies space and styling requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the compression stiffness parameter along the suspension attachment structure by introducing a collapsible portion with lower compression stiffness. This parameter variation enables controlled deformation and progressive energy absorption during impact, achieving improved shock absorption without increasing the overall length of the structure.
2Strength
If the compression stiffness of the suspension attachment structure is increased to maintain rigidity and support, then structural strength is improved, but shock absorption progressiveness and passenger safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension attachment structure is designed with spatially varying mechanical properties: rigid portions provide structural strength and support, while a collapsible portion with lower compression stiffness provides progressive deformation and energy absorption during impact. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between maintaining structural rigidity and achieving shock absorption progressiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure is segmented into functionally distinct zones: rigid attachment portions for structural support and a collapsible portion for energy absorption. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally, with the rigid portions maintaining structural integrity and the collapsible portion providing progressive deformation characteristics.
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
The assembly achieves a compromise between compact dimensions and progressive shock absorption, offering adjustable stiffness and deformability, thus improving passenger safety and vehicle style.
Implementation Method 1
the spars are deformable along the forward moving direction under compression forces. The deformability of the spars ensures that the absorption box gradually deforms in the event of a front crash
Implementation Method 2
the collapsible portion (20) has a lower compression stiffness than the attachment portion (13)
Data Source
AI summary
A front frame assembly for a motor vehicle includes a suspension attachment structure with an attachment portion fixable to a body cell of the motor vehicle, one or more attachment elements fixed relative to the suspension attachment structure to allow a suspension of the motor vehicle to be coupled to the attachment portion, and an absorption element to absorb a front crash of the motor vehicle, wherein the absorption element is distinct from the suspension attachment structure, is fixed relative to the suspension attachment structure, and extends along a first straight axis, wherein the suspension attachment structure further comprises a collapsible portion between the absorption element and the attachment portion along the first straight axis, the collapsible portion having a first compression stiffness equal to or greater than a second stiffness of the absorption element and smaller than a third stiffness of the attachment portion.