Motor Vehicle Front Compartment Layout for Rear Engine Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles with rear engines have a front compartment of reduced dimensions with non-optimized distribution of functional elements, leading to reliability and safety issues due to exposure to weather and shocks, and increased production costs for right-hand and left-hand drive versions.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a third zone in the front compartment to house essential components like the hydraulic braking unit, steering rack, cooling exchanger, and electrical components, allowing for a consistent layout that can accommodate both drive types with minimal differentiation, thus protecting components from adverse conditions and simplifying production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If functional elements are distributed under the vehicle floor to maximize space utilization, then the front compartment dimensions are optimized, but the reliability deteriorates due to exposure to weather and foreign body shocks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefront compartment volumeVSAvoidcomponent reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The front compartment is segmented into three distinct zones: a first zone for steering components, a second zone for the battery, and a third central zone for hydraulic braking units and cooling components. This segmentation allows critical components to be positioned in protected central areas while maintaining overall space efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The third zone acts as an intermediary protected space between the first and second zones, shielding hydraulic braking units and cooling components from direct exposure to weather and foreign bodies while maintaining their functional connectivity to other vehicle systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If all functional elements are differentiated by driving side (right-hand vs left-hand drive), then the ease of operation is optimized for each configuration, but the device complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving side configurationVSAvoidlayout complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The steering column and assistance motor are extracted to the first zone on one side of the vehicle, while the battery is placed in the second zone on the opposite side. This extraction allows the central third zone to remain invariant, enabling production of both right-hand and left-hand drive vehicles on the same line with minimal reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The third zone is designed as a universal central space that can accommodate hydraulic braking units, cooling components, and electrical components regardless of driving side configuration, making it applicable to both right-hand and left-hand drive vehicles without modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If functional elements are differentiated by driving side (right-hand vs left-hand drive), then the ease of operation is optimized for each configuration, but the manufacturing cost increases due to separate production lines

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving side configurationVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Volume of moving object

If critical components are placed in exposed locations under the floor, then the space utilization is maximized, but the safety deteriorates due to vulnerability to shocks and weather

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidweather and shock exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2920045B1Motor vehicle having a rear engine and comprising an improved front compartment

Publication Date: 2019.01.02 RENAULT SA

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (10) that comprises a rear compartment (14), containing a power train (16) of the motor vehicle, and a front compartment (18) including: a first area (60) which is located on the right for a vehicle driven on the right, or located on the left for a vehicle driven on the left, and which receives at least one steering column (20), a brake servo (24), and main rigid brake lines (44); and a second area (62) which is located on one side of the vehicle, opposite the first area, and which receives at least one battery (22), characterized in that the front compartment (18) includes a third area (64) which is located between the first and second areas and which receives at least one hydraulic brake unit (26) and secondary rigid brake lines (46).