Instrument Panel Reinforcement for Side Impact Stiffening
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Solution Overview
Problem
The area between the A and B pillars in vehicles is weak and prone to severe deformation during a side impact, leading to potential harm to occupants, as existing reinforcement methods only indirectly stiffen this area and may buckle under force.
Innovation Solution
An instrument panel reinforcement that extends transversely between the A and B pillars, formed from ribbed or non-ribbed plastic, providing integral load-bearing support without a conventional cross member, allowing for effective absorption of high forces and reduced deformation in the Y-direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional cross member is used between A-pillars with a force transmission element supported on it, then the instrument panel can be reinforced, but the force path is not straight causing buckling risk and requiring massive fastening
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of supporting the force transmission element from behind the instrument panel on a cross member, the invention inverts the approach by having the reinforcement extend from the front surface of the instrument panel directly to the B-pillar area, creating a straight force path that eliminates buckling risk
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the conventional cross member between A-pillars, replacing it with a reinforcement that integrates directly into the instrument panel structure and extends to the B-pillar, simplifying the force transmission path
2Strength
If reinforcement is provided only at the A-pillar area, then the vehicle body is stiffened against side impact, but the area between A and B pillars remains weak and prone to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement extends in the transverse direction from the front surface of the instrument panel all the way to the B-pillar area, covering the entire span between A and B pillars rather than being localized only at the A-pillar region
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement is strategically positioned to provide targeted stiffening in the critical area between A and B pillars, with the contour following the instrument panel's outer surface to maximize structural efficiency in the weakest region
3Strength
If a hybrid structure with carrier skin and plastic or metal carrier structure is used, then reinforcement is provided, but weight and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement is integrated directly into the instrument panel as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate carrier skins and metal reinforcement components, thereby reducing weight while maintaining strength
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses plastic material with ribbed or corrugated structure that provides high strength-to-weight ratio, replacing heavier metal hybrid structures while maintaining reinforcement effectiveness
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
According to the invention, the vehicle contains a vehicle body (1) with two A pillars (2a, 2b) and two B pillars which bound a vehicle interior, and an instrument panel (3) which is arranged in the interior between the A pillars, wherein the instrument panel (3) has an instrument panel reinforcement (6), wherein the instrument panel reinforcement (6) has at least one first section (7a) and/or one second section (7b), and the first and/or second section extends/extend in each case transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at least over part of the instrument panel (3), beginning in each case on the outside (8a, 8b) of the instrument panel (3), in order to stiffen the instrument panel (3) against a high force acting on the outsides (8a, 8b) of the instrument panel (3), for example against a force which is produced by a side impact, wherein the contour of the instrument panel, including the instrument panel reinforcement (6), lies at least partially at a height between the A pillars (2a, 2b) and the B pillars at least in the region of the respective outside (8a, 8b) of the instrument panel (3), characterized in that the instrument panel reinforcement is arranged in that region (5) of the contour of the instrument panel which projects the furthest into the vehicle interior from the direction of the B pillars.