Pivot Joint for Vehicle Underbody Force Redirection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle underbody designs lack adaptability and safety features, particularly in distributing impact forces away from critical components like the battery pack, and struggle with flexibility to accommodate various vehicle sizes and platforms.
Innovation Solution
The proposed underbody structure incorporates a hybrid uni-body design with pivot joints and a webbing device that distributes force loads away from the passenger and battery compartments, featuring modular components and crumple zones to enhance safety and adaptability, allowing for scalable configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid fixed joint is used to couple body members to the vehicle frame, then structural strength and stability are improved, but impact forces are directly transmitted to the passenger compartment and battery pack, reducing safety
Solution Approach 1:
The joint incorporates pivot points that allow the body member to rotate dynamically during impact events. This dynamic capability enables the joint to pivot away from rigid fixed positioning, allowing controlled movement that redirects impact forces away from protected compartments while maintaining structural integrity during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot mechanism converts harmful direct impact forces into beneficial redirected force vectors. When impact occurs, the joint pivots to redirect forces away from the passenger compartment and battery pack, transforming the harmful direct transmission path into a beneficial force redirection that enhances safety
2Ease of manufacture
If a single fixed mounting point is used for body members, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability to different vehicle sizes and platforms is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The joint design with multiple pivot points creates a universal mounting system that can accommodate different vehicle sizes and platforms. The same joint structure can be adapted to various body members and frame configurations by utilizing different pivot points, providing multi-functionality without requiring completely different designs for each application
3Stability of the object's composition
If the body member is rigidly coupled at multiple points to the vehicle frame, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to redirect impact forces away from critical components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pivot points provide structural stability during normal operation while enabling dynamic force redirection during impact. The body member can pivot at different pivot points depending on impact location and direction, allowing flexible force redistribution that protects critical components while maintaining overall structural integrity
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 design enhances vehicle safety by centralizing the battery pack and creating effective crumple zones, improves handling through adaptable platforms, and allows for various vehicle sizes and configurations without compromising structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The body member can be pivotable at one of the first and second mounting points when a force is applied to the body member. The pivoting movement of the body member can at least partially transfer the force to the vehicle rail.
Implementation Method 2
The body member can pivot at one of the first or second pivot points when a force is applied in a first direction to the body member such that the force is redirected in a second direction different than the first direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A joint for a vehicle can direct forces away from an interior of the vehicle and along a frame rail. The joint can pivot when subjected to a high force, and the pivoting action can redirect and redistribute the force away from a passenger compartment. The joint can comprise multiple pivot points.