Vehicle Quarter Member Connecting Structure for Load Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
2-door and 3-door vehicles lack a rear door, which impedes the efficient transfer of collision energy from the rear to the front of the vehicle during a rear-side collision, leading to inefficient load transfer and potential structural failure.
Innovation Solution
A connecting structure featuring a lateral junction portion at the front end of the quarter member, coupling perpendicularly with the center pillar, and a preassembled quarter member composed of inner and outer components, which are spot-welded to the center pillar, enhancing load transfer through a perpendicular and side coupling mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a 2-door or 3-door vehicle uses a quarter member connecting structure with only side coupling surfaces, then the structure is simple, but the load transfer efficiency from rear to front is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a longitudinal coupling surface that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, adding a new dimensional aspect to the connection between quarter member and center pillar. This longitudinal surface works together with the existing lateral coupling surface to create a multi-directional load transfer path, enabling efficient transfer of rearward applied loads to the front while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting structure is divided into distinct functional surfaces: a lateral coupling surface for side-wise load transfer and a longitudinal coupling surface for forwardward load transfer. This segmentation allows each surface to specialize in transferring loads in its respective direction, improving overall load transfer efficiency without requiring a completely complex structure
2Ease of manufacture
If the quarter member and center pillar are coupled only through a side coupling surface, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the load cannot be efficiently transferred to the front side
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the existing lateral coupling surface with a newly added longitudinal coupling surface to form an integrated connection interface. This combined coupling structure maintains ease of manufacture by building upon the original simple design while adding the longitudinal surface to enable efficient forwardward load transfer, achieving both manufacturing simplicity and improved force transfer capability
3Reliability
If a perpendicular coupling structure is used to transfer load from rear to front, then the load transfer path is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal coupling surface extends in the longitudinal direction, adding a dimensional aspect that enables stable load transfer from rear to front. This longitudinal extension works perpendicular to the lateral coupling surface, creating a multi-directional load transfer path that improves stability without requiring overly complex structural elements
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 stabilizes the transfer of loads from the rear to the front, improving structural strength and preventing damage to the quarter member and vehicle body, thus securing passenger space during collisions.
Implementation Method 1
an inner quarter member 21 and an outer quarter member 22 are preassembled to form the quarter member 20, and then the preassembled quarter member 20 is coupled to the center pillar 10
Data Source
AI summary
The connecting structure of a center filler and a quarter member of a vehicle may include a lateral junction portion formed at a front end of the quarter member, the lateral junction portion coupling with one side surface of the center filler in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The connection structure may further include a longitudinal coupling portion formed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle coupled with an outer quarter member of the quarter member, a trim coupling portion substantially the same length as the longitudinal coupling portion coupled with trim, and a connection portion connecting the longitudinal coupling portion and the trim coupling portion to each other, wherein the lateral junction portion extends at a front end of the longitudinal coupling portion, and the lateral junction portion is bent substantially perpendicular to contact to the center filler.