Rear Wheel Cover Support Structure for Compact Vehicle Crash Load Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

The conventional vehicle body structure of sports cars, with reduced size, compromises collision strength, affecting driving safety.

Innovation Solution

A layered force transmission path is implemented using a rear longitudinal beam assembly, rear wheel cover, and supporting rods to enhance collision strength, incorporating a rear bumper beam assembly, rear wheel cover, and a rear wheel cover supporting rod system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the vehicle body structure size is greatly reduced, then the vehicle size is reduced, but the collision strength of the vehicle body structure is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle sizeVSAvoidcollision strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle body structure is divided into multiple independent components including rear longitudinal beams, rear wheel covers, supporting rods, and connection structures. Each component is optimized independently to contribute to overall collision strength while maintaining compact dimensions. The segmented design allows force to be distributed across multiple elements rather than concentrated in a single large structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material construction in the vehicle body structure, combining materials with different mechanical properties to achieve high strength-to-weight ratio. The rear longitudinal beams, wheel covers, and supporting rods utilize composite materials that provide enhanced collision resistance without increasing overall vehicle size, resolving the contradiction between compact dimensions and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Volume of stationary object

If the rear part structure size is reduced, then the vehicle size is reduced, but the force transmission capability is weakened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverear structure sizeVSAvoidforce transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The force transmission system in the rear structure utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement of components. The rear wheel covers are positioned to intercept forces from multiple directions, while supporting rods are oriented at optimal angles to transmit forces efficiently to the rear longitudinal beams. This dimensional optimization enables effective force transmission within a compact rear structure volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Connection structures serve as intermediaries between the rear wheel covers, supporting rods, and rear longitudinal beams. These intermediary elements efficiently transfer forces between components, ensuring that the compact rear structure maintains strong force transmission capability through optimized force pathways rather than relying on large structural dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4699905A1vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 BYD CO LTD
  • EP4699905A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4699905A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4699905A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A vehicle, comprising a rear longitudinal beam assembly (410); and a rear wheel cover (451) and rear wheel cover supporting rods, the rear wheel cover (451) being connected to the rear longitudinal beam assembly (410), the rear wheel cover supporting rods comprising a rear wheel cover rear supporting rod (452) and a rear wheel cover front supporting rod I (43l), the rear wheel cover (451) being connected to the rear longitudinal beam assembly (410) by means of the rear wheel cover rear supporting rod (452), and the rear wheel cover (451) being connected to a passenger compartment (20) by means of the rear wheel cover front supporting rod I (431). Therefore, the layered design of force transmission paths by the rear longitudinal beam assembly (410), the rear wheel cover (451) and the rear wheel cover supporting rods improves the collision strength of vehicles.