Pedestrian Protection Plate with Bidirectional Beads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pedestrian protection apparatuses for vehicles face issues with high component costs, weight, installation complexity, and inadequate impact performance, particularly in managing impact loads during collisions, which can lead to unnecessary damage to the vehicle and increased repair costs.
Innovation Solution
A pedestrian protection apparatus featuring a plate member with alternately disposed first and second reinforcing beads protruding upward and downward, respectively, to enhance rigidity without increasing weight, ensuring prompt impact load distribution and minimizing damage during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the height of the ribs is increased to ensure sufficient rigidity and prevent deformation of the front portion, then the impact performance is improved, but the total weight of the pedestrian protection apparatus is increased and manufacturing efficiency is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a single-direction rib structure to a bidirectional cross-hatch rib structure. The second set of ribs extending in the width direction (perpendicular to the first ribs) creates a two-dimensional reinforcement pattern that distributes impact loads more effectively across the front portion, achieving sufficient rigidity without increasing rib height or adding significant weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The front portion is divided into multiple rib segments arranged in a cross-hatch pattern. Instead of using fewer, taller ribs, the structure employs numerous smaller rib segments that work together to provide distributed reinforcement. This segmentation allows the structure to achieve high rigidity through collective support rather than relying on individual tall ribs.
2Strength
If the height of the ribs is increased to ensure sufficient rigidity, then the impact performance is improved, but the manufacturing time and complexity are increased due to deeper recesses required in molding dies
Solution Approach 1:
The cross-hatch rib structure uses ribs extending in two perpendicular directions rather than increasing the height (vertical dimension) of single ribs. This dimensional shift allows the structure to achieve equivalent or superior rigidity through a two-dimensional load distribution network, avoiding the need for deep molding die recesses and reducing manufacturing complexity.
3Strength
If a resin foam body and beam structure are used to provide rigidity, then the impact performance is improved, but the component cost and installation complexity are increased due to the large number of components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention integrates the reinforcement structure directly into the single plate member by forming ribs as integral parts of the plate. This merging of the reinforcement elements with the base structure eliminates the need for separate foam bodies, beams, and other discrete components, thereby reducing component count, simplifying installation, and lowering overall system complexity while maintaining rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate member is formed using composite material technology, specifically injection-molded synthetic resin that integrates multiple functional elements (the plate body and the reinforcement ribs) into a single monolithic structure. This composite approach replaces assemblies of multiple components with a unified part that achieves the same structural performance with fewer pieces.
4Strength
If a metal pipe structure is used to provide rigidity, then the impact performance is improved, but the weight of the apparatus is increased and formability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from metal to synthetic resin, which has a lower density and therefore lower weight. By optimizing the rib structure geometry (using cross-hatch patterns) and adjusting material properties (selecting appropriate resin formulations), the design achieves sufficient rigidity with a lighter material, reducing the overall weight of the pedestrian protection apparatus.
Data Source
AI summary
A pedestrian protection apparatus for a vehicle, includes a plate member which is disposed at a lower part of a front of the vehicle so as to extend in a frontward and backward direction of the vehicle, which includes a front portion and a rear portion; and a plurality of first reinforcing beads protruding upward and extending in the frontward and backward direction of the vehicle and a plurality of second reinforcing beads protruding downward and extending in the frontward and backward direction. The first reinforcing beads and the second reinforcing beads are provided integrally with the front portion so as to be alternately disposed in a vehicle width direction. The apparatus is arranged to sweep a leg portion that has collided with the front of the vehicle by contact of the plate member with the leg portion, thereby protecting the leg portion.