Vehicle Front Structure Layout for Oblique Impact Load Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle-body front structures in automobiles are inadequate in absorbing oblique impact loads, as the subframe primarily located on the lower side concentrates impact loads, leading to potential deformation of the vehicle cabin during collisions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-body front structure featuring upper-side and lower-side cross members with impact absorption members positioned further outward, connected to crush cans and a battery unit, dispersing impact loads across the vehicle width and height to reduce cabin deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a subframe is provided only on the lower side of the front-side frame, then the structure is simpler, but the impact load concentrates on the lower side leading to insufficient absorption of oblique impact loads
Solution Approach 1:
The front structure is segmented into multiple independent impact absorption members: upper-side impact absorption members, lower-side impact absorption members, left-side impact absorption members, and right-side impact absorption members. Each member is positioned at different locations and orientations to absorb impact loads from different directions, thereby distributing the impact load rather than concentrating it on the lower side only.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the impact absorption capability from a single lower-side structure to a three-dimensional arrangement involving upper-side, lower-side, left-side, and right-side impact absorption members. This spatial distribution across multiple dimensions allows the structure to effectively absorb oblique impact loads from various angles.
2Reliability
If impact absorption members are positioned farther on the vehicle-width-direction outer side at positions farther on the vehicle front side, then the impact load is more effectively absorbed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The impact absorption members are asymmetrically positioned with respect to the vehicle centerline and front-rear axis. Specifically, the upper-side, lower-side, left-side, and right-side impact absorption members are arranged at different positions and orientations, creating an asymmetric configuration that optimizes impact load absorption from oblique directions while managing structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
To suppress deformation of a vehicle cabin by efficiently absorbing an impact load obliquely from a vehicle front side, a vehicle-body front structure includes an upper-side cross member, a lower-side cross member, upper-side impact absorption members that support respective ones of both vehicle-width-direction sides of the upper-side cross member, and lower-side impact absorption members that support respective ones of both vehicle-width-direction sides of the lower-side cross member. The upper-side impact absorption members and the lower-side impact absorption members are each positioned farther on a vehicle-width-direction outer side at a position farther on a vehicle front side.