Front Pillar Chamfer Structure for Small Overlap Wheel Deflection

Solution Overview

Problem

In the event of a frontal collision or small overlap crash, the front wheel may not be completely separated from the vehicle body if the chassis-side lower arm is not adequately damaged, leading to potential injury and the need for increased reinforcement in the front pillar, which raises weight and cost concerns.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle body side structure is designed with a front pillar that includes a chamfer surface diagonally inclined from the lower portion toward the interior of the vehicle, aligned with the front wheel, to deflect or turn the front wheel outwards during a collision, preventing it from intruding into the passenger compartment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lower cross-sectional area of the front pillar is increased to absorb impact energy, then crashworthiness is improved, but the weight of the front pillar increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecrashworthinessVSAvoidweight of front pillar

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the front wheel with a chamfered leading edge and positioning it at an angle relative to the vehicle body before collision occurs. This pre-positioning and geometric configuration enable the wheel to automatically deflect outward upon impact without requiring additional active mechanisms or excessive structural reinforcement, thereby resolving the contradiction between crashworthiness and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple reinforcements are mounted on the lower portion of the front pillar, then crashworthiness is improved, but the cost and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecrashworthinessVSAvoidnumber of reinforcements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the crashworthiness function from the front pillar structure itself and transfers it to the front wheel configuration. By giving the wheel the chamfered geometry and proper positioning capability, the pillar does not require multiple reinforcements to achieve the same safety outcome, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining crashworthiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the chassis-side lower arm is designed to be damaged in collision to separate the front wheel, then crashworthiness is improved, but if the hitting position is inaccurate, the lower arm may not be completely damaged and the front wheel may not be separated

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecrashworthinessVSAvoidhitting position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the front wheel with a chamfered leading edge and positioning it at an angle relative to the vehicle body before collision occurs. This pre-positioning and geometric configuration enable the wheel to automatically deflect outward upon impact without requiring additional active mechanisms or excessive structural reinforcement, thereby resolving the contradiction between crashworthiness and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12221160B2Vehicle body side structure

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An embodiment vehicle body side structure includes a front pillar located behind a front wheel, the front pillar comprising a chamfer surface that is diagonally inclined from a lower portion of the front pillar towards an interior of a vehicle, the chamfer surface being aligned with the front wheel in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a side sill connected to the lower portion of the front pillar.