Rear Panel Assembly Gussets for Vehicle Body Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle body structures face limitations in increasing overall rigidity, particularly in transmitting loads from rear suspension dampers to the rear panel assembly efficiently, while also compromising interior space due to the design of rear damper houses.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of left and right panel gussets that connect the rear panel assembly to the rear wheel houses, and gutter gussets that interconnect the gutter assemblies, allowing for efficient load transmission and increased rigidity by dispersing loads via the rear panel assembly and gutter assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the left and right rear damper houses are disposed in the interior of the vehicle to support rear suspension dampers, then the rear damper houses can provide structural support, but the interior space of the vehicle is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the rear damper houses from the interior space to the exterior of the vehicle body, specifically positioning them on the rear panel assembly. This spatial relocation resolves the contradiction by providing structural support functionality while eliminating the interior space occupation, allowing the damper houses to be accessed and serviced from the exterior.
2Device complexity
If the left and right rear damper houses each comprise only a house structure with side plate and top plate, then the structure is simple, but the load in the vehicle width direction cannot be efficiently transmitted from the rear suspension dampers to the closed sectional member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the rear damper house into multiple functional components: a house structure for basic support, a reinforcement plate for load distribution, and a connection structure for attaching to the closed sectional member. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement plate is designed with a curved surface that contacts the closed sectional member, creating a larger contact area compared to a flat plate. This curved geometry improves load distribution and transmission efficiency from the damper to the structural member while adding minimal complexity to the overall design.
3Strength
If the left and right rear damper houses are jointed directly to the opposite ends of the closed sectional member to increase bending rigidity, then the bending rigidity in the vehicle width direction is increased, but the overall rigidity of the rear part of the vehicle body is still insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local reinforcement by adding reinforcement plates at specific locations where the damper houses connect to the closed sectional member. These reinforcement plates are strategically positioned to enhance load transmission at critical stress points, thereby improving both bending rigidity and overall structural stability without requiring complete redesign of the entire rear body structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body includes: an opening that is formed in the rear surface; a rear panel assembly having a closed cross-sectional shape and being located at the lower edge of the opening and extending in the width direction of the vehicle; left and right rear wheel wells located in front of the rear panel assembly; and left and right gussets for panels, the gussets connecting the left and right rear wheel wells and the rear panel assembly. Each of the rear wheel wells forms a portion of each of the inner walls of the vehicle body side sections, and the rear wheel wells have support sections for supporting rear dampers for the left and right rear suspensions.