Gusset-Restrained Footrest for Small Overlap Collision Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In small overlap collisions, existing vehicle structures fail to properly hold the passenger's foot at the footrest without increasing vehicle weight or compromising design flexibility, as they are not designed to handle collision loads directly inputted from the vehicle side.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle structure featuring a front wheelhouse with a gusset connected to its rear face, extending inward to restrain the footrest from moving forward during collisions, utilizing a gusset with a matching recessed shape to engage with the footrest and a hinge pillar for additional support, ensuring the footrest remains in place without weight increase or design flexibility loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the footrest is arranged near the slant face of the front wheelhouse, then the vehicle structure can be compact, but the footrest moves forward during small overlap collision causing improper foot positioning
Solution Approach 1:
A gusset is introduced as an intermediary structural element between the front wheelhouse and the footrest. The gusset extends from the rear face of the front wheelhouse inward, with its inward end portion positioned near the front-side portion of the footrest to restrain forward movement during collision, while not interfering with normal foot placement
2Reliability
If reinforcement structures are added to prevent footrest movement during collision, then foot positioning reliability improves, but vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding comprehensive reinforcement throughout the vehicle structure, the gusset is strategically placed only where needed - extending from the front wheelhouse rear face toward the footrest area. This localized reinforcement provides collision protection specifically for the footrest region without adding unnecessary weight to other vehicle components
3Reliability
If complex fastening structures are used to secure the footrest, then foot positioning reliability improves, but design flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint function is segmented from the footrest itself and implemented through a separate gusset component. The gusset is connected to the front wheelhouse structure and positioned to restrain footrest movement during collision, while the footrest maintains its original simple fastening structure, preserving design flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle structure, comprising a front wheelhouse covering a front wheel, the front wheel comprising a rear face and a slant face which slants forward and inward from an inward end portion, in a vehicle width direction, of the rear face, a footrest, on which a passenger's foot is placed, the footrest being arranged near and on an inward side of the slant face of the front wheelhouse in a plan view of a vehicle, and a gusset connected to the rear face of the front wheelhouse and extending inward from a connection portion thereof to the rear face, wherein an inward end portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the gusset is arranged in the vicinity of a front-side portion of the footrest such that the footrest is restrained from moving forward by contacting the inward end portion of the gusset in a vehicle collision.