Modular Vehicle Body Joint Structure for Convertible PBVs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle body designs for Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs) lack flexibility, limiting their usability and increasing manufacturing costs due to fixed configurations that cannot easily adapt to different service types.
Innovation Solution
A joint structure for the vehicle body comprising a front body module as a fixed portion, a rear body module as a variable portion, a roof joint unit, a floor joint unit, and a side joint unit, all made of aluminum extruding members, allowing for easy conversion between different vehicle body types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed configuration vehicle body design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different service types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle body is divided into modular segments: a fixed front body module and a variable rear body module that can be detached and replaced. This segmentation allows different rear modules (passenger cabin, cargo compartment, etc.) to be swapped based on service requirements, thereby improving adaptability without complicating the overall vehicle architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The front body module is designed as a universal fixed component that can be paired with multiple types of rear body modules. The standardized interface and joint structure enable a single front module to serve multiple service functions when combined with different rear modules, achieving multi-functionality at the system level.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed configuration vehicle body is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but usability for multiple purposes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the vehicle body into standardized modules with clear separation interfaces, each module can be manufactured independently using optimized processes. The rear body modules, which vary by function, can be produced separately and assembled to the universal front module, simplifying manufacturing while enabling multiple purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint structure incorporates adjustable and configurable parameters (such as connection mechanisms, sealing interfaces, and mounting positions) that allow the same basic structure to accommodate different module types. This parameter variability enables manufacturing flexibility without requiring completely different structures for each application.
3Ease of operation
If modular aluminum extruding members are used for joint units, then adaptability and ease of replacement improve, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The joint units are designed with dynamic characteristics that enable easy assembly and disassembly. The aluminum extruding members incorporate features such as snap-fit connections, threaded interfaces, or quick-release mechanisms that allow the rear body module to be rapidly replaced without complex tools or procedures, improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The aluminum extruding members serve as intermediary connection elements between the front and rear body modules. These standardized intermediate components provide a universal interface that simplifies the replacement process, as the same intermediary can work with different module types, reducing overall system complexity despite the modular design.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the rear body module is made detachable, then vehicle purpose can be easily changed, but structural integrity challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The joint structure is pre-designed and pre-engineered with reinforced connection points and optimized load paths. The aluminum extruding members are specifically shaped and positioned to distribute mechanical stresses evenly across the joint interface, ensuring that the detachable design does not compromise structural integrity during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint structure utilizes composite construction combining aluminum extruding members with reinforcing elements (such as steel inserts, bonding materials, or hybrid materials). This composite approach maintains the lightweight and modular advantages of aluminum while adding the strength and rigidity needed to preserve structural integrity during detachment and reattachment operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A joint structure of a vehicle body includes a front body module as a fixed portion fixed to a front portion of an under body, a rear body module as a variable portion detachable to a rear portion of the under body and the front body module in a predetermined shape, a roof joint unit made of an aluminum extruding member and connecting a fixed portion roof structure of the front body module and a variable portion roof structure of the rear body module, and a floor joint unit made of an aluminum extruding member and connecting a fixed portion floor structure of the front body module and a variable portion floor structure of the rear body module.