Hinge Bracket Deformation for Wheel Guidance in Vehicle Side Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle side-body structures, the hinge pillar reinforcement faces challenges in managing collision loads during small overlap collisions, leading to potential deformation and increased weight due to the need for high strength to guide the retreating front wheel, which complicates weight reduction efforts.
Innovation Solution
A side vehicle-body structure featuring a hinge pillar with a reinforcement and a hinge bracket of lower strength than the reinforcement, designed to deform or detach when receiving collision loads, guiding the front wheel outward in the vehicle width direction, thereby reducing deformation and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hinge pillar reinforcement is designed with high strength to bear collision load, then the reliability of the vehicle body structure is improved, but the weight of the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge pillar reinforcement is divided into two functional segments: a guide portion with high strength for guiding the front wheel, and a hinge bracket portion with lower strength for absorbing collision loads. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall weight while maintaining structural reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the hinge pillar reinforcement are assigned different strength characteristics. The guide portion maintains high strength to perform its guiding function, while the hinge bracket portion uses lower strength material or thinner cross-section to reduce weight, as it primarily needs to absorb collision loads rather than provide structural guidance.
2Weight of stationary object
If the hinge pillar reinforcement is made lighter to reduce vehicle weight, then the weight of the vehicle is reduced, but the ability to guide the front wheel and absorb collision load deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the hinge pillar reinforcement into guide and hinge bracket portions with different strength levels, the structure can be optimized for weight reduction while maintaining collision absorption capability. The lower-strength hinge bracket portion is sufficient for load absorption, eliminating the need for high-strength material throughout the entire component.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge bracket portion is designed as a sacrificial element with lower strength that can deform or break during collision to absorb energy, protecting the more critical high-strength guide portion and the vehicle compartment. This disposable approach to the hinge bracket allows weight reduction while maintaining overall safety.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the hinge bracket is designed with high strength to prevent deformation, then the stability of the door hinge attachment is improved, but the weight of the hinge bracket increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge bracket uses lower strength material or reduced cross-section compared to the guide portion, as its primary function is energy absorption through controlled deformation rather than providing rigid attachment. The door hinge attachment stability is maintained through proper connection design to the high-strength guide portion, allowing the bracket itself to be lighter.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge bracket is designed to dynamically deform during collision rather than maintain rigid stability. This controlled deformation allows the bracket to absorb collision energy while maintaining adequate attachment stability during normal operation, eliminating the need for high-strength (and heavy) material throughout the bracket.
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
This configuration effectively reduces deformation and weight by allowing the hinge bracket to absorb collision loads, guiding the front wheel outward without requiring excessive strength in the hinge pillar reinforcement, thus enhancing impact absorption and maintaining a lightweight structure.
Implementation Method 1
the hinge bracket is configured to have a lower strength than a portion of the hinge pillar reinforcement where the hinge bracket is provided... since the hinge bracket has the lower strength than the portion of the hinge pillar reinforcement where the hinge bracket is provided, it is not necessary that the hinge pillar reinforcement including the portion where the hinge bracket is provided is configured to have a strength that is high enough to bear the collision load
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a hinge pillar comprising an outer panel and an inner panel which form a closed cross section extending vertically, a hinge pillar reinforcement provided in the closed cross section, a front door attached to the hinge pillar via a pair of upper-and-lower door hinges, and a hinge bracket attaching the lower door hinge to the hinge pillar reinforcement, the hinge bracket being provided to face a front wheel in a longitudinal direction. Herein, the hinge bracket has a lower strength than a portion of the hinge pillar reinforcement where the hinge bracket is provided. Accordingly, when receiving a collision load from the front wheel, the hinge bracket changes a contact portion of the front wheel to the hinge pillar so as to guide the retreating front wheel outward in a vehicle width direction.